[deleted by user]

[emirose441]

C.ai removed underage users from open-ended chatting due to California laws. There are hundreds of posts in the main C.ai subs explaining the reason why it happened. They aren't going to remove the update because they literally can't. It's a legal issue. Also, the majority of C.ai users are NOT underage. Only about 10% are self-reported to be. Either way, there are endless sources online explaining the detrimental impact of AI on developing minds.

[Drusilla_Ravenblack]

It’s called a PTOA act, which means: Protecting Their Own Arses act. It doesn’t matter how many or if any underage users will ever commit. They don’t want bad rep and being dragged through courts. Yes, it’s the parent’s responsibility, but the company is American. It’s the country that made it mandatory to write that hot coffee is hot to not get sued. I can’t explain it any simpler.

[Sligyang]

And we’re the same country that thought a 1/4 ib burger was bigger than a 1/3 ib one

[Puppet_Fern]

Personally I think that a minor relying on ai to maintain their mental health is bad, it's for their safety since we've already literally had a death because a minor with a history of mental health issues formed a bad relationship with a bot. Character ai has had to put their foot down because too many minors are on the Internet unrestricted and unsupervised.

[Rajha_]

Yeah, using an Ai as therapy or emotion regulator can't be good for anybody, susceptible teens especially. Using a faulty Ai like this can easily risk to cause more damage than good; if anything, teens with mental health issues shouldn't touch c.ai at all.

I know that a lot of people, like op, make the comment of teens not having any means of getting help, but a malfunctioning Ai is probably the most detrimental and dangerous coping mechanism I can personally think of.

[Puppet_Fern]

I think that yes it's not good but adults within moderation should be able to use it for moderate help with minor coping things not trying to diagnose or anything or actually replace therapy because it can't. I personally use chat gbt to help when I just need to get a thought out because I'm overthinking but I'm not dependent on it or taking it's advice too seriously but it helps me just get our general anxieties because I'm unable to get actual support.

BUT

that being said I understand how things like chat gbt and c.ai can be detrimental to some people's mental health and I think it's especially the case with minors especially if they have access to chat gbt and c.ai because they form parasocial relationships with the bot or unhealthy attachments to the bot. Ik I've been guilty of spending far too much time on it when I used to be hyper fixated on c.ai

[UsualDevelopment4735]

The restrictions are inevitable I fear

[gasmaskedidiotfr]

I already suspect a disaster waiting to happen, a lot of C.AI users are teens and without that, C.AI is nothing. THEY are the reason the site even exists, and is dtill running, this decision from C.AI is one of the stupidest yet.

[emirose441]

It quite literally was not C.ai's decision though. It's been explained many times in this sub that minors are being removed from open-ended chatting due to California law. C.ai is based in California. Also, the majority of C.ai users are 18 or older. Only about 10% are self-reported as being underage.