Teenagers using ChatGPT will now face tighter controls, with OpenAI introducing a dedicated experience that combines learning tools, parental oversight and stronger restrictions on content considered unsuitable for young users.
The new system, unveiled on Tuesday, August 18, is aimed at users aged between 13 and 17 as students increasingly turn to AI tools to revise, understand difficult subjects and work through school assignments.
OpenAI said teenagers will be placed in the dedicated experience if they identify themselves as being between 13 and 17 or if its systems estimate that they are below the age of 18.
“It provides stronger built-in safety protections for teens, including features to promote healthy use and additional controls for parents. If our system estimates someone is under 18 or they state their age is between 13 and 17, they are automatically placed into ChatGPT for Teens,” the company wrote.
Among the changes is Study Mode, which is designed to help students work through questions in stages instead of immediately receiving answers. The feature will also provide quizzes and learning visualisations to support students as they study.
OpenAI is also adding Study Hours, allowing teenagers to choose periods when Study Mode becomes the default. The platform will send reminders for breaks, encouraging users not to spend extended periods interacting with the chatbot.
Another feature will focus on homework. ChatGPT will issue reminders aimed at directing students back to solving their work when it appears they are attempting to avoid doing the assignment themselves.
The company is also changing how the chatbot interacts with teenagers following concerns over the way young users can develop a strong reliance on AI or begin viewing chatbots as people.
Teen users will be able to disable voice responses that sound human. ChatGPT will also make clear that it is an artificial intelligence system rather than a person.
OpenAI said the chatbot will not tell teenagers that it has feelings, emotions or consciousness. It will also place restrictions on romantic and sexual conversations involving teen accounts.
Additional protections will cover areas including self-harm, violence, eating disorders, dangerous activities and explicit sexual or graphic material.
Parents who connect their accounts to those of their teenagers will gain more control over how ChatGPT is used. They will be able to choose periods when the service cannot be accessed and adjust selected settings.
They will also be able to receive safety notifications in limited situations considered to involve a high level of risk.
OpenAI said the measures are intended to give teenagers room to use AI for education and creative work while helping them maintain healthy routines and relationships away from the technology.