OpenAI rolls out ChatGPT safety features for teens

OpenAI is rolling out a dedicated ChatGPT experience for teenagers aged 13 to 17, introducing stronger safeguards aimed at promoting healthier AI use and reducing the risk of emotional dependence on chatbots. The new teen-focused experience is designed to provide additional protections around sensitive topics while helping young users understand the difference between interacting with an AI system and having a relationship with a real person.

Among the new features, teenagers will be able to turn off ChatGPT’s voice mode, while regular break reminders will encourage them to step away from the chatbot and remind them that they are communicating with artificial intelligence. OpenAI said the changes are based on the principle that AI should support teenagers’ development, real-world relationships and healthy habits rather than replace human connections.

Users who identify themselves as being between 13 and 17 will be placed into the teen experience, while OpenAI also uses technology to estimate whether an account belongs to someone under 18. Children under 13 are not permitted to use ChatGPT. The company is also expanding education-focused features for younger users, with Study Mode helping students work through problems and understand concepts instead of simply receiving direct answers. Parents who link their accounts to their teenagers’ accounts will be able to establish “Quiet Hours,” during which ChatGPT will be unavailable.

They can also manage selected settings and receive limited safety notifications when serious risks are detected. OpenAI said education and productivity are major reasons teenagers use ChatGPT, with nearly nine in 10 teenage users reportedly turning to the service for learning, information, skill development or productivity. The company is therefore placing a strong emphasis on using AI as a learning and development tool.

Additional protections are being introduced for conversations involving sensitive issues such as self-harm, violence and eating disorders. Certain high-risk interactions may result in a safety notification being sent to a parent after review by trained personnel. However, OpenAI said parents will not normally have access to their teenagers’ conversations, except in limited circumstances involving serious safety concerns. The new safeguards come amid growing concerns about young people forming emotional attachments to AI systems or treating chatbots as conscious companions.

Technology companies are facing increasing pressure to address the potential psychological and social effects of AI products on children and teenagers. OpenAI’s teen-focused experience represents an effort to respond to those concerns while maintaining access to AI for education and everyday tasks. The company said its goal is to ensure teenagers can benefit from AI without allowing it to replace relationships, offline support or other important parts of their lives. The rollout also signals a broader shift toward age-specific AI experiences as companies attempt to balance technological access with stronger protections for younger users.