ChatGPT’s New Parental Controls Are Broken By Design
OpenAI announced parental controls for ChatGPT on September 29 2025, but after testing them myself, I found critical flaws that make them ineffective for protecting children. In this video, I break down exactly what's wrong with the current system and what the parental controls should actually look like.Key Problems Covered:- Children can bypass controls by simply logging out- Defaults are not safe-by-default (backwards safety engineering)- Zero visibility for parents (not even conversation summaries)- Controls are not tamper-proof- System appears designed for PR, not actual child protectionWhat Real Controls Would Include:- Tamper-proof architecture- Safe-by-default settings- Tiered monitoring (metadata + summaries, not full surveillance)- Age-appropriate developmental stagesDo not rely on these controls. Kids should use ChatGPT only in shared spaces with ongoing parental engagement and clear family agreements.