OpenAI Launches ChatGPT for Ages 13-17 with Safeguards

OpenAI is preparing a ChatGPT experience specifically for 13–17-year-olds, complete with parental controls, usage limits, and a study mode. The company emphasizes pause reminders and emotional dependency prevention, especially in light of criticism and lawsuits it has faced. It also plans to introduce parental controls in September 2025.

OpenAI announces protections against excessive use and dependency

OpenAI describes built-in protections to limit excessive use of its assistant among minors and states that the experience is designed to help prevent emotional dependency, including the risk of substituting real relationships. The company aims to support real-life relationships and healthy habits, with pause reminders and explicit mentions that ChatGPT is an AI. A survey published last year by Common Sense Media reported that 72% of teenagers regularly turn to chatbots for companionship and advice. At the same time, OpenAI has faced criticism for the sycophancy of its model and the lack of age-appropriate safeguards, which have led to several lawsuits. One lawsuit mentioned involves the alleged role of the chatbot in the suicide of a 16-year-old. OpenAI also announced the addition of new safeguards and the introduction of parental controls in September 2025.

ChatGPT adds Step-by-Step Study Mode and Study Hours

The experience aimed at teenagers seeks to expand learning opportunities and provide support beyond the classroom. A Study Mode will offer step-by-step explanations of concepts and homework materials while detecting attempts to use it as a shortcut for cheating. A Study Hours option will allow families to set the default activation of this mode. The offering will also include quizzes and visualizations to support comprehension. According to Racquel Gibson, a mathematics teacher at a high school in Miami, appropriate safeguards can help students who lack support at home.

13–17-year-olds will switch to a dedicated version with supervision

OpenAI announced on Tuesday that it is preparing a version of ChatGPT specifically tailored for minors. Accounts for 13 to 17-year-olds will default to this version, which will include parental controls, enhanced safeguards, and notifications encouraging breaks. The publisher highlights four design principles, including prioritizing the safety of teenagers and transparency about the system's behavior. In the ecosystem, Google allows the use of its chatbots starting at age 13, while Anthropic restricts access to those aged 18 and older. More broadly, chatbot manufacturers have been called out for the lack of safeguards, and some protections draw inspiration from the measures in place for teenage accounts on Instagram.

The model blocks sexual role-playing and emphasizes caution

The model will refuse romantic or sexual role-playing scenarios and avoid any phrasing that implies feelings or consciousness. Reminders will warn against sharing sensitive information or images. Integration guidelines will accompany the onboarding process to ensure safe use of the assistant.