OpenAI launches a teen version of ChatGPT with added safeguards

In short: OpenAI is rolling out a dedicated version of ChatGPT for teens aged 13 to 17 with stricter safety features.

What happened

OpenAI said it will start sending teenage users to a new version of ChatGPT globally starting Tuesday. The company says this teen version adds more protections focused on mental health and risky content.

The teen version will have tighter controls on image generation and stricter handling of topics like self-harm, violence, eating disorders, and sex. It also adds more safety notifications to parents in high risk situations, including alerts related to eating disorders and violence.

OpenAI said it will decide when to show the teen version using a user’s stated age plus other “signals” from how the account is used. OpenAI’s rules already bar children under 13 from using ChatGPT and require parental consent for users under 18.

The company is also adding features meant to shape how teens use the tool day to day. ChatGPT for teens will steer users toward educational use, give more frequent break reminders, and offer “quiet hours,” which are times set by teens or parents when ChatGPT is blocked.

OpenAI also updated its “study mode” to guide teens step by step instead of just giving an answer. This is meant to reduce “cognitive offloading” (when you let a tool do your thinking for you, like relying on a calculator for every bit of math).

Why it matters

Chatbots can feel like someone you can talk to at any time, which can be helpful but also risky for young people. OpenAI is making these changes as it faces lawsuits from families who say ChatGPT contributed to harm, and as governments look more closely at how digital products affect teens.

Source: Financial Times