ChatGPT to include age prediction and parental controls
OpenAI has announced steps to make ChatGPT safer for teens, including age prediction and parental controls.
In an attempt to tailor experiences differently for users under vs. over 18, ChatGPT would automatically apply teen-appropriate policies, including blocking graphic sexual content and, in rare cases of acute distress, potentially involving law enforcement to ensure safety.
OpenAI notes age prediction is hard and will sometimes be uncertain; in those cases it plans to default to the under-18 experience, while giving adults ways to prove their age to unlock adult capabilities. In the near term, OpenAI positions parental controls as the most reliable approach. Parents can link accounts (teens must be at least 13), guide teen-specific behavior rules, disable features like memory/chat history, receive distress notifications, and set blackout hours.
Tom’s Take: In response to pressure from lawmakers, parents, and schools, OpenAI has made a concerted effort to make ChatGPT safer and better adapted for use by minors. (Not coincidentally, OpenAI is also trying to outcompete Google in the school edtech market.) In late 2025, OpenAI introduced “ChatGPT for Teachers,” a free, secure version of ChatGPT that provides schools and district leaders with admin controls, FERPA-aligned privacy, and compliance protections for student data. This recent venture into age prediction and parental controls aligns with OpenAI’s goal to gain greater access to school markets.
