OpenAI just dropped a new set of safety policies to help developers build AI experiences that are safer for teens. These policies come as ready-to-use prompts for their open-weight safety model, gpt-oss-safeguard, making it easier for devs to translate high-level safety goals into concrete, operational rules. The key challenge? Defining what harmful content actually looks like for teens requires both subject matter expertise and AI know-how, which many teams lack—leading to gaps or overly broad filters. Informed by research on teen development and input from groups like Common Sense Media, these policies target common risks younger users face. They’re part of OpenAI’s broader push for teen safety, including updated Model Spec guidelines and parental controls. Why it matters: As AI becomes more accessible, creating age-appropriate guardrails isn’t just nice-to-have—it’s essential for ensuring young users can benefit from AI without being exposed to harm, and this release lowers the barrier for developers to get it right.