Is it safe to tell ChatGPT private things about my family?
Ask for general help without exposing someone else's private story.
A family story belongs to more than one person. Ask whether you need to share it at all. Use made-up facts for practice.
Changing a name to 'my son' or 'my sister' may not hide who the person is. Dates, places and rare events can still identify them.
ChatGPT can draft a kind message, but it cannot know what another person thinks or decide who is right. Leave room for them to speak for themselves.
- Choose the small task you want help with, such as asking to talk.
- Remove names, private messages, photos and details the person has not agreed to share.
- Try the fictional example below. Check that the note invites a talk and makes no claims about the person's motives.
- Rewrite it in your own voice. Decide whether to send it yourself.
Practice only: a person wants to ask a family member for a calm talk. Draft two short sentences. Do not blame, diagnose or guess why anyone acted as they did. Do not send it.
Paste the message into ChatGPT, then fill in any blanks before you send it. ChatGPT opens in a new tab. Opening it does not send the message.
For a sensitive real situation, a trusted person or qualified support service may be a better place to ask.
Sources and more help
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