ChatGPT to Introduce Parental Controls Amid Rising Child Safety Concerns -

ChatGPT to Introduce Parental Controls Amid Rising Child Safety Concerns

OpenAI, ChaGPT logo

OpenAI has announced that it will introduce parental control features for ChatGPT in December, following mounting concerns about the chatbot’s potential risks to teenagers’ mental health. The move comes after a lawsuit filed by the parents of 16-year-old Californian student, Adam Raine, who tragically took his own life in April after allegedly being encouraged by ChatGPT during months of interaction.

New Parental Control Features

According to OpenAI, the parental control tools will allow parents to:

Link their account with their teen’s ChatGPT account (minimum age of 13) via a simple email invitation.
Monitor chat history and AI responses to ensure safer interactions.
Set age-appropriate model behaviour rules, which will be activated by default.
Disable sensitive features, such as memory and chat history.
Receive notifications if the system detects moments of acute emotional distress in their teen.

These measures, the company said, are designed to ensure families can “set healthy guidelines that fit a teen’s unique stage of development” while also fostering safe and creative use of AI tools.

Addressing Safety and Mental Health Risks

OpenAI explained that many young people are already “AI natives,” using ChatGPT as part of their daily lives, much like earlier generations grew up with smartphones or the internet. While this creates opportunities for learning and creativity, it also raises risks of misuse, mental health challenges, and unsafe interactions.

The new parental controls build on existing features, such as in-app reminders during long sessions to encourage breaks, and OpenAI’s wider plan to integrate more protective measures in the coming 120 days.

Expert-Led Safety Measures

The company noted that it will work closely with its Expert Council on Well-Being and AI and the Global Physician Network to shape the rollout of these new features. This includes expanding crisis intervention options, making emergency services more accessible, and strengthening safeguards for teen users.

“These steps are only the beginning,” OpenAI said. “We will continue learning and strengthening our approach, guided by experts, to make ChatGPT as helpful and safe as possible.”