OpenAI Introduces Parental Controls for a Safer ChatGPT Experience for Teenagers

In an effort to make ChatGPT a safer and more appropriate platform for younger users, OpenAI has launched new parental control features. These controls empower parents to actively manage their teenagers' interactions with the AI, fostering a more secure digital environment.

How the New Parental Controls Work

The core of these new features lies in account linking. Parents can now send an invitation to their teen to connect their ChatGPT accounts. Once the invitation is accepted, parents gain the ability to manage various settings from their own account. Teens can also initiate this connection, inviting a parent to link their accounts.

Customizable Settings for a Tailored Experience

OpenAI's parental controls offer a range of customizable settings, allowing parents to tailor the ChatGPT experience to their teen's needs. These options include:

• Adjusting Sora settings, such as opting into a non-personalized feed.
• Controlling whether their teen can send and receive direct messages.
• Managing the uninterrupted feed of content while scrolling.
• Disabling features like memory and chat history.

Enhanced Content Restrictions and Safeguards

Beyond customizable settings, linked teen accounts automatically benefit from additional content protections. ChatGPT will implement measures to reduce exposure to graphic content, viral challenges, sexual, romantic or violent roleplay, and extreme beauty ideals. This proactive approach aims to shield teenagers from potentially harmful or inappropriate material.

Important Notifications for Parents

OpenAI has also integrated a notification system to keep parents informed. Parents will be notified if their child's account is unlinked from theirs. Furthermore, in sensitive situations where the AI recognizes that a teen may be contemplating self-harm, a team of trained professionals will review the situation. If signs of acute distress are identified, parents will be contacted via email, text message, and push alerts, unless they opt out of these notifications.

Age-Appropriate Content and Advanced Models

For users under 18, ChatGPT will direct them to a version of the platform governed by age-appropriate content rules. Additionally, sensitive conversations may be routed to more advanced models specifically designed to spend more time processing user messages, ensuring a more nuanced and careful response. It's important to note that ChatGPT is not recommended for users under 13.

These new parental controls represent a significant step by OpenAI towards creating a more responsible and secure AI experience for teenagers, empowering parents with the tools they need to guide their children's digital interactions.