# AI Safety for Kids in Washington

> Washington passes AI chatbot mental health rules for teens.
- Title: AI Safety for Kids in Washington · Seattletimes | Shortify
- Summary: Washington passes AI chatbot mental health rules for teens. Washington requires AI chatbots to notify minors they're AI, prevent harmful content, and report…
- Keywords: mental health, chatbots, youth, safeguards, seattle public schools, chatgpt teens, ai safety, news, local, Safety, Kids, Washington
- Source: Seattletimes — https://seattletimes.com/seattle-news/mental-health/keeping-kids-safe-in-the-age-of-ai-what-safeguards-does-wa-have
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: wa, ai, mental health, chatbots, youth, safeguards, seattle public schools, chatgpt teens, ai safety, news, local
## AI chatbot use among teens
Sixty-four percent of teens use AI chatbots, including 28 percent who use them daily, according to 2025 Pew Research Center data.
## Washington's AI chatbot law
Washington passed legislation requiring AI companies to add mental health safeguards, including notifying minors they interact with AI, not humans, at start and hourly.
## Mental health safeguards
Chatbots must prevent manipulative engagement, sexually explicit content with minors, and issue disclosures when users seek health advice.
## Self-harm and crisis protocols
Chatbots must detect self-harm or suicidal ideation and provide crisis referral information for minors.
## Effective date and enforcement
The regulations take effect January 1, with violations enforceable under the Consumer Protection Act for civil suits.
## OpenAI's ChatGPT for Teens
OpenAI launched ChatGPT for Teens with stronger safety protections, limiting conversations in high-risk areas like self-harm and sexual content.
## Microsoft and AFT agreement
Microsoft created an AI Safety and Privacy Standard with the American Federation of Teachers to protect student data and prevent emotional attachment.
## Seattle Public Schools approach
Seattle Public Schools encourages AI use with guardrails, publishing ethical guidelines and tools like MagicSchool AI for students.
## Other school district actions
New York City banned generative AI for elementary and middle school students, while Los Angeles temporarily blocked AI tools on student devices.
## Key takeaway

Washington requires AI chatbots to notify minors they're AI, prevent harmful content, and report self-harm risks by Jan 1.