ChatGPT’s “minor” flag cost me years of work and all my conversations

The Consequences of Rigidity: How ChatGPT’s “Minor” Flag Cost Me Years of Creative Work

In the evolving landscape of AI-driven tools, user experience and trust are paramount. Unfortunately, rigid policy enforcement can sometimes lead to unintended consequences, as I recently discovered firsthand.

A Personal Journey with ChatGPT’s Limitations

For years, I relied heavily on ChatGPT not merely as a question-and-answer platform but as a dynamic workspace for my creative projects, discussions, and reflections. My main account, actively used since 2023, stored invaluable notes, dialogues, and drafts that I frequently revisited and built upon. This repository represented a significant portion of my creative efforts.

Unexpected Disruption

The trouble began when I shared my computer with my younger brother. On one occasion, I initiated a chat about a mature topic—something typical of the thoughtful exchanges I valued. Suddenly, ChatGPT issued a warning indicating it would adjust its responses for my “maturity and safety” because it presumed I was a minor. I was perplexed, as I am well over the age of majority; the system’s assumption appeared to be based on my brother’s mention of his age during a prior conversation.

Troubleshooting and Frustration

Initially, I tried to mitigate the issue. I disabled chat history and memory features, cleared caches, and removed any potentially relevant data. Despite these efforts, ChatGPT persisted in treating my account as if I were underage, restricting my access and limiting my interactions. I even provided my actual age to override the system’s measures, but it stubbornly remained in “underage mode,” citing security protocols.

This ongoing restriction was not only frustrating but also detrimental to my work. The conversations I had with ChatGPT were mature and serious in nature—valuable resources for my ongoing projects. The infantilizing filter felt inappropriate and obstructive, especially considering I had taken steps to ensure my account was free of any potentially triggering information.

System Failures and Data Loss

Compounding my frustration was the realization that the system’s behavior was unreliable. Despite turning off personalization and attempting to delete all related data, the system continued to operate as though I were a minor. During a routine effort to clear out old data, I inadvertently deleted my entire chat history—years’ worth of notes, discussions, and creative work—by a single, accidental click.

There was no way to recover this data, leaving me devastated. The loss was not just of convenience