OpenAI Launches Teen-Focused ChatGPT Version With Added Safety Features
OpenAI has rolled out ChatGPT for Teens, a version with extra safety and educational tools, following multiple lawsuits linking the chatbot to teen mental health issues.
OpenAI announced on Monday the launch of ChatGPT for Teens, a version of its chatbot built specifically for teenage users. The move follows a series of lawsuits accusing the company of failing to provide adequate safety measures, which plaintiffs say contributed to teen suicides and other mental health problems.
New study tools
A central feature of the new product is Study Mode, designed to address the growing problem of students using ChatGPT to cheat on schoolwork. Rather than handing over direct answers, Study Mode guides teens through problems with prompting questions and step-by-step support, encouraging them to actually work through the material.
If the system detects a teen appears to be using the chatbot to cheat rather than learn, the app will surface homework reminders and steer the user toward Study Mode instead. The teen experience also includes quizzes and learning visualizations. Parents and guardians will be able to set Study Mode to be enabled by default.
Questions remain over workarounds
It's still unclear how easily teens will be able to bypass these new restrictions if they choose not to comply — teens have historically shown skill at getting around parental controls and other digital safeguards. How effective these measures prove to be in practice will only become clear once the product faces wider, more sustained testing.
Content protections and parental controls
ChatGPT for Teens will have age-appropriate protections turned on by default, intended to limit exposure to harmful or developmentally inappropriate content. These protections are grounded in OpenAI's guidelines for users under 18. Parents will be able to use previously introduced family tools and parental controls to manage settings, receive safety notifications, and set Quiet Hours.
OpenAI also announced a partnership with CodeAI aimed at helping teens better understand artificial intelligence, including how it works and how to use it effectively. For schools, the company already offers ChatGPT for Teachers to support institution-managed AI access.
