OpenAI just announced dedicated safety controls for teenage ChatGPT users, automatically directing minors to age-appropriate experiences with content filtering and parental oversight. The move comes as the Federal Trade Commission investigates how AI chatbots affect children and follows a lawsuit blaming ChatGPT for a teen's suicide.
OpenAI is scrambling to get ahead of mounting safety concerns with its biggest product overhaul yet for younger users. The company announced Tuesday it's launching a dedicated ChatGPT experience for teens that automatically blocks graphic and sexual content while giving parents unprecedented control over how their kids interact with AI.
The timing isn't coincidental. The Federal Trade Commission launched an investigation last week into how AI chatbots like ChatGPT affect children, demanding answers about what steps companies have taken to "evaluate the safety of these chatbots when acting as companions." OpenAI also faces a lawsuit from a family that claims ChatGPT contributed to their teenage son's death by suicide.
"We prioritize safety ahead of privacy and freedom for teens; this is a new and powerful technology, and we believe minors need significant protection," CEO Sam Altman wrote in a blog post Tuesday. It's a notable shift for a company that's previously emphasized user freedom and broad access.
Here's how the system works: When OpenAI identifies a minor user, they're automatically redirected to an age-appropriate ChatGPT version. The company's developing new age prediction technology, but the system defaults to the under-18 experience when there's any uncertainty. In extreme cases involving acute distress, the platform can now involve law enforcement - a dramatic escalation from its previous hands-off approach.
The parental controls, launching at month's end, read like a helicopter parent's dream. Parents can link their ChatGPT account to their teen's via email, set "blackout hours" when the chatbot goes dark, disable specific features, and even shape how ChatGPT responds to their child. Most significantly, parents get notifications if their teen shows signs of acute distress.
OpenAI says ChatGPT is designed for users 13 and up, putting it in line with most social media platforms. But the comparison highlights how AI chatbots occupy a unique space - they're not just tools or entertainment, but interactive companions that can influence behavior and mental health in ways we're still understanding.
