OpenAI is rolling out new protections for teenagers using ChatGPT, introducing parental controls designed to create safer experiences for younger users.
The company said teens are among the first “AI natives,” growing up with the technology much like earlier generations did with smartphones and the internet. To help families manage how teens use the tool, OpenAI is introducing new account-linking features and customizable restrictions.
Beginning within the next month, parents will be able to link their own accounts with their teens’, with the minimum age set at 13. Parents can then manage ChatGPT’s responses with default age-appropriate behavior settings, control access to features such as memory and chat history, and disable certain functions entirely.
Notifications and safety tools
One of the new tools includes notifications sent to parents if the system detects their teen is experiencing acute distress, with the feature designed under expert guidance to maintain trust. OpenAI said these additions build on existing measures, such as in-app reminders encouraging breaks during long sessions.
The company said it will continue strengthening protections for teens, working with experts and sharing progress updates over the next 120 days.
This announcement comes just days after OpenAI was sued for wrongful death by the parents of a 16-year-old who died by suicide. After his death, they discovered months of conversations with ChatGPT about suicide and claim that “ChatGPT killed my son.”
