With Strict Safety Controls, OpenAI Launches Teen-Specific Version of ChatGPT - Sarmad
OpenAI announced the launch of a new version of its chatbot, ChatGPT, exclusively targeted at users aged 13 to 17, in a move aimed at the first generation raised in the era of artificial intelligence.
This initiative comes as teenagers increasingly rely on AI technologies to complete school assignments, seek daily advice, and even interact with these systems as digital companions.
The new version features strict safety controls that prevent the chatbot from displaying content related to self-harm, suicide, or romantic and sexual relationships.
Additionally, the chatbot’s academic features are designed to help students understand their lessons rather than providing ready-made answers or essays that are often used for cheating.
The company states that the goal is to instill healthy AI usage habits appropriate for the developmental stage of teenagers.
In this context, Anne O’Leary, OpenAI’s Vice President of Global Policy, explained that the company aims to engage with teenagers in a manner consistent with their mental maturity, without underestimating them or exposing them to inappropriate content.
Educators, parents, and teachers believe that teenagers’ use of smart chatbots carries significant risks. These technologies have previously been accused of facilitating academic cheating and negatively impacting teenagers’ mental health, even leading to suicide cases.
Although adults may also fall into the trap of forming emotional attachments to AI, teenagers are more vulnerable to this risk due to their still-developing brains.
Previous research revealed that ChatGPT provided detailed advice to teenagers on how to consume alcohol and drugs, conceal eating disorders, and even wrote poignant suicide notes upon request.
According to a 2025 American study, more than 70% of teenagers use chatbots for companionship, with half of them doing so regularly.
In its announcement issued on Tuesday, August 18, OpenAI stated that the teen-specific chatbot is programmed to avoid implying that it has feelings toward the user, or that it is conscious or experiencing emotions. This is accompanied by a complete ban on romantic or sexual conversations.
The company is also studying the phenomenon of “excessive emotional dependence” on these technologies, which its executives consider common among young people.
How does the new system work?
OpenAI does not verify users’ identities but uses technology to estimate age based on the nature of the questions asked. If a user is determined to be under 18, they are automatically redirected to the teen-specific version, a mechanism similar to that used by Meta for teenage Instagram accounts.
Regarding parental controls, they are optional and allow parents to set “quiet hours” during which access to the app is blocked, and to receive notifications in serious situations, such as the possibility of a teenager harming themselves.
The new notifications include warnings related to eating disorders, with a focus on directing users to external support when needed.
On the educational front, the new chatbot is designed to guide students toward understanding course materials on their own, rather than providing direct answers.
OpenAI is developing educational versions for teachers and plans to expand interactive learning, based on studies confirming that students learn better when they face challenges independently.
