OpenAI launches restricted version of ChatGPT for users under 18

OpenAI is building guardrails around ChatGPT for its youngest users. On September 16, 2025, the company announced a suite of safety measures designed specifically for users under 18, including automatic content restrictions, a new parental control system, and an AI-powered age-prediction tool that tries to figure out if you’re a teenager before you even tell it. What the teen experience actually looks like The new “teen experience” is essentially a filtered version of ChatGPT that automatically blocks several categories of content. Graphic and sexual material, flirtatious interactions, and discussions around self-harm or suicide are all restricted by default for users identified as minors. The minimum age to use ChatGPT remains 13, but users under 18 now need parental consent. That consent isn’t just a checkbox, either. On September 29, 2025, OpenAI launched a parental controls feature that lets guardians link their own accounts to their teens’ accounts. Parents can customize safety settings, monitor usage patterns, and receive notifications when the system detects signals of acute distress from their teen’s conversations. The age-prediction system Rather than relying solely on use...