OpenAI launches ChatGPT for Teens with stronger safety controls

OpenAI has launched ChatGPT for Teens, a version of the chatbot with stronger built-in safety protections for users under 18, the company said in a blog post on Monday. Teen accounts become the default for anyone the system estimates to be underage, or who states they are between 13 and 17 at sign-up. Under-13s remain barred from the platform.

According to the BBC, part of the rollout includes removing the chatbot’s ability to respond to teens using a human-like voice, a move meant to reduce the tool’s tendency to appear person-like.

OpenAI’s own announcement does not detail this specifically, though it says teens will get customisation options such as accent colours and voice variations designed to feel personal “without blurring the line between a useful tool and a human relationship.

The company said the update is not a response to any single incident, but comes amid broader industry concern about people forming strong attachments to AI systems and treating them as sentient.

OpenAI said its under-18 model rules now go beyond blocking romantic or sexualised roleplay: the chatbot should not use romantic language, encourage emotional dependence on it, or claim to have feelings.

ChatGPT study tools and parental alerts

The teen experience builds on Study Mode, which OpenAI says uses guided questions rather than direct answers to help students work through material. New “responsible homework reminders” are designed to detect when a teen is trying to shortcut an assignment and redirect them back into that step-by-step format. OpenAI is also adding quizzes, learning visualisations, and scheduled “Study Hours” that parents or teens can set for when Study Mode stays on by default, alongside “quiet times” that switch the tool off entirely.

Also read: What OpenAI’s unlimited ChatGPT rollout actually fixes for African users

On the safety side, OpenAI is adding eating disorder-related prompts to the list of flagged requests that trigger alerts to parents with linked accounts. Each alert is reviewed by a person before being sent, with the company aiming to reach parents within an hour.

OpenAI also announced a partnership with CodeAI, an education-focused AI company, aimed at helping teens and teachers understand how AI systems work, question their outputs, and use them responsibly in the classroom.

The company is not alone in tightening rules for younger users. Anthropic’s Claude remains restricted to adults only, and Google’s Gemini, launched as Bard, also excluded children at launch. There is currently no dedicated AI regulation covering minors in the UK, though past government proposals considered restricting chatbot use by under-18s.