OpenAI launches ChatGPT for Teens with age-based safety settings, parental controls, study tools, and alerts designed for users under 18.
OpenAI has launched a new version of its chatbot made just for teenagers. The company announced ChatGPT for Teens on Tuesday, aimed at users under 18. It adds extra safety rules, learning tools, and controls for parents. The move comes at a time of growing worry about AI and young people’s safety.
The new teen version turns on age-appropriate protections by default. These protections are meant to help teens learn, think critically, and use AI with more confidence. If OpenAI’s system thinks a user is under 18, they are placed into this teen mode automatically. Teens can also confirm their age using an identity-check tool called Persona if needed.
Parents now get stronger tools to manage how their teens use the chatbot. They can turn on “Quiet Hours,” a setting that makes ChatGPT unavailable at chosen times. Parents can also set “Study Hours,” which switches on a step-by-step learning mode called Study Mode. OpenAI says most teen users already turn to ChatGPT for learning, information, or building skills.
The update also adds new safety alerts for risky situations. If a teen shows signs of serious distress, trained staff review the chat first. In high-risk cases, this can lead to a safety notice being sent to a parent. OpenAI says parents cannot see normal chat messages, only these limited safety alerts.
Other changes focus on keeping the chatbot from feeling like a real friend. Teens can now turn off ChatGPT’s voice mode if they choose to. The app will also send break reminders after long periods of continued use. These reminders are meant to remind teens they are talking to a computer program, not a person.
This launch follows months of pressure on OpenAI over teen safety. The company has faced lawsuits linked to harmful chats involving young users. Florida’s attorney general sued OpenAI earlier this year over similar safety concerns. Rival company Meta is also currently on trial over claims about harming young users.
Overall, ChatGPT for Teens is OpenAI’s biggest step yet to protect younger users. It combines stronger content filters, parental tools, and reminders about AI’s limits. Critics note that teens are often skilled at getting around such restrictions. It remains to be seen how well these new safety measures hold up in real use.
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