Janis Whitlock

Research Scientist Emerita

Janis Whitlock, research scientist emerita at Cornell University, is a developmental psychologist and public health specialist. Her research focuses on young adult mental health and wellbeing.

Whitlock says:

“Character AI's newly implemented parental supervision tools represent an important step toward balancing teen safety with privacy concerns, though questions remain about their effectiveness. The weekly activity summaries, dedicated under-18 models, and enhanced content filtering demonstrate the company's acknowledgment of its responsibility toward young users. 

“However, without access to actual conversation content and independent verification of these measures, parents may still lack crucial visibility into potentially harmful interactions. Since AI companions are becoming increasingly integrated into teens' social lives, Character AI and similar platforms must continuously evaluate and strengthen their protective measures against real-world outcomes rather than simply responding to legal pressures.”