2026-07-17 11:00:13
OpenAI is introducing “stronger protections” for teens using ChatGPT.
The tech giant has claimed it’s “critical for teens to have access to AI” given that they’re the “first generation growing up” with the technology which will “heavily shape their future”.
Despite insisting that banning teens from using AI would leave them “less prepared” for their adult lives, OpenAI acknowledge that “access must be paired with protections designed specifically for teens”.
The company has outlined a few key areas to focus on, including built-in safeguards for users estimated to be under 18.
These include “stronger safeguards around graphic violence, self-harm, risky viral challenges, unhealthy body-image content, and dangerous, romantic, or sexual roleplay”.
ChatGPT will prompt “more frequent break reminders” for teens spending extended time with the app, to “encourage them to pause and step away”.
Meanwhile, parental controls will allow guardians to set “quiet hours” as well as turning off voice mode, managing image generation access, and receive notifications in “high-risk situations”, including “indications of potential self-harm”.
OpenAI continued: “We’re expanding those notifications to include cases where a linked teen account has been deactivated for violating our usage policies on violent threats or acts of violence online.
“This approach helps parents know when something serious has happened while respecting teens’ privacy and encouraging conversations and support offline.”
OpenAI’s work is guided by its four key commitments.
The first is to “put teen safety first even when it may conflict with other goals”, while the others include encouraging “real-world support in times of teen”, treating “teens as teens”, and being “transparent by setting clear expectations”.
Other improvements include Study Mode, as part of tools to “encourage active engagement, critical thinking, and deeper understanding”.
OpenAI says it has collaborated with teachers, learning scientists and more experts to help students with the platform.
Parents with linked teen accounts can turn the Study Mode on themselves directly.
OpenAI acknowledged that “continuous progress” is required to keep youngsters safe online.
They added: “In the coming months, we’ll continue strengthening age-appropriate protections, giving parents more tools and control, improving safeguards against serious harms, advancing research on healthy AI use, and building more experiences that help teens learn actively and use AI with confidence.
“We know there is more to do, and we’re committed to continuing our work in collaboration with teens, parents, educators, experts, and communities worldwide to bring safe broad access to teens.”
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