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Sam Altman Discouraged Short-Form Video Use for Children

OpenAI’s leader linked dopamine-heavy algorithms to human-centric risks as the EU prepares new age-based restrictions.

Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Artificial Intelligence

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OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has criticized dopamine-driven, short-form video algorithms, marking a shift toward prioritizing human-centric design over engagement-based metrics. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you believe short-form video content is harmful to the development of young children?

At the Salesforce Dreamforce conference, Sam Altman expressed concern that children lack the capacity to resist dopamine-driven, short-form video content. This commentary follows OpenAI’s decision to discontinue its own short-form video app, Sora, in April 2026.

Why it matters

Altman’s stance reflects a broader industry reckoning with the psychological impact of algorithmic feeds on minors. It comes as regulators prepare the EU Kids Act, which seeks to set a hard age limit for social media account creation.

The proposed EU Kids Act sets a 15-year age threshold for minors creating social media accounts. This follows a $17.1 billion legal settlement reached by Meta in August 2026 addressing teen addiction concerns.

The players

Sam Altman

The chief executive officer of OpenAI, a developer of large language models and generative AI systems.

Meta

A technology conglomerate that operates major social media platforms and manages high-volume algorithmic feed infrastructure.

Dario Amodei

The chief executive officer of Anthropic, a research-focused artificial intelligence company.

The details

Altman argued that the design of short-form video feeds, which leverage rapid-fire content to maximize engagement, exploits biological vulnerabilities in children's reward systems. OpenAI previously attempted to enter this space by launching the Sora platform in September 2025, but the company shuttered the project just seven months later. This pivot aligns with growing internal and external pressure to prioritize human-centric design over growth-driven engagement metrics.

Timeline

  1. September 2025: OpenAI launched the short-form video app Sora.

  2. April 2026: OpenAI discontinued the Sora platform.

  3. August 26, 2026: Meta reached a $17.1 billion social media settlement.

  4. September 21, 2026: Dario Amodei called to pace AI development.

  5. September 22, 2026: Sam Altman discussed social media risks at Dreamforce.

The Tech Race

Altman’s comments align with the regulatory trajectory established by the proposed EU Kids Act, which seeks to enforce age-based usage limits. This marks a shift from pure engagement-driven growth to a defensive posture against increasing global legislative scrutiny.

The proposed EU Kids Act could soon restrict social media access for users under 15, changing how families and platforms manage account sign-ups globally. These policy shifts suggest a near-term landscape where age verification and protective design features become standard requirements.

The takeaway

Leaders are increasingly acknowledging the negative feedback loops inherent in current social media architecture. Watch for the official introduction of the EU Kids Act, which will set a critical precedent for how global regulators handle algorithmic engagement for minors.

Further reading

For more on how companies are navigating safety standards, see the Artificial Intelligence section.

Live Poll

Do you believe short-form video content is harmful to the development of young children?