OpenAI Unveils ChatGPT for Teens With Stronger Safety Controls

United States, 18 August 2026 - OpenAI has launched a new version of ChatGPT, ‘ ChatGPT for Teens’, introducing stronger safety protections, parental controls and learning features as concerns grow over the impact of AI on young users.

 The company said on Tuesday that the new version targets children aged 13-17 years and has stronger guardrails, especially on topics such as suicide, self-harm, and romantic or sexual conversations.

OpenAI is also limiting romantic and sexual interactions and has introduced safeguards intended to prevent teenagers from developing unhealthy emotional dependence on the chatbot.

The new version has also been restricted from suggesting that it has feelings for the users or that it has its own consciousness. Furthermore, other functions such as voice mode have also been disabled.

Instead of simply providing homework answers, the new version is designed to guide users through problems and help them arrive at the answers themselves, with features such as Study Mode supporting the process.

The company said teenagers can also use healthy-use features that are intended to encourage breaks and reduce excessive engagement with the chatbot.

 On the other hand, parents will have the choice to link their personal accounts to those of their children to ensure that they are alerted once the child tries to engage in risky discussions with the chatbot.

The launch comes amid increasing scrutiny of AI companies over the safety of children and teenagers using chatbots. OpenAI says the new experience is part of a broader effort to develop age-appropriate AI.

The announcement comes after its tech counterpart announced a new parental supervision feature on its platforms that will enable parents to monitor how their teens interact with Meta AI.

The tech giant said in April that parents and guardians using supervision on Facebook, Messenger, or Instagram will now see a new insights tab both in-app and on the web.

From there, parents will be able to see the topics their teen has been asking Meta AI about in that specific app over the past seven days, from school, entertainment, and lifestyle to travel, writing, and health and wellbeing, among others.