OpenAI expands ChatGPT teen controls with Study Mode and safety notifications
Parents can enable Study Mode for linked accounts, while notifications now cover deactivations involving violent threats or acts of violence online.
OpenAI is expanding parental notifications to include linked teen accounts deactivated for violent threats or acts of violence online
OpenAI has expanded the controls available to parents of teen ChatGPT users, adding the ability to enable Study Mode for linked accounts and widening notifications when accounts are deactivated for violations involving violence.
The Study Mode control moves beyond restrictions on particular ChatGPT features by allowing parents to influence how linked teen accounts approach schoolwork. Once enabled, the mode becomes the default whenever the teenager starts a new chat.
OpenAI is pairing the change with more frequent break reminders, education-focused starter prompts and existing protections for users its system estimates are under 18.
The company positions the measures as part of its argument for maintaining teen access to AI while applying age-appropriate safeguards. OpenAI says nearly nine in 10 teens on ChatGPT use the platform for learning, information, skill-building or productivity during a single week. The company does not provide the methodology or define the user population behind that figure in the announcement.
The product changes align with youth safety positions set out in OpenAI's Public Policy Agenda. the agenda calls for age assurance, parental controls, safety testing, public disclosure and independent audits for AI services used by teenagers.
Study Mode moves into Parental Controls
Study Mode is designed to guide students through problems using questions, structured explanations and opportunities for reflection instead of immediately supplying an answer. OpenAI says it developed the feature with teachers, learning scientists and pedagogy experts.
Parents with linked teen accounts can now activate the mode directly through ChatGPT's Parental Controls. Teenagers can also continue to switch it on themselves.
OpenAI has separately introduced starter prompts for tasks including breaking subjects into steps, converting notes into study guides, creating flashcards and practice questions, and checking evidence and clarity.
The company describes early evaluation of tools such as Study Mode as showing "promising gains in student performance," although the announcement does not provide the research design, participant numbers or size of those gains.
Across ChatGPT's wider user base, OpenAI says 18 million people now use its interactive math and science experiences each week. The experiences cover more than 300 topics, including integrals, mitosis, moon phases and photosynthesis. A separate pronunciation tool uses audio to cover words in more than 61 languages.
Safety notifications cover account deactivations
ChatGPT automatically applies additional protections when its age prediction system estimates that a user is under 18. OpenAI says these safeguards are intended to reduce exposure to graphic violence, self-harm, dangerous viral challenges, unhealthy body-image content and dangerous, romantic or sexual roleplay.
Parents can already use linked accounts to set quiet hours, disable voice mode, manage access to image generation and receive notifications in some high-risk situations, including indications of potential self-harm.
OpenAI is also extending parental notifications to cases where a linked teen account has been deactivated for violating its policies on violent threats or acts of violence online.
The company consulted Moonshot, an organization focused on preventing online violence, while developing the notification process.
"In Moonshot's violence prevention work, we've seen the critical role parents play in safeguarding teens online. Parents need to be equipped with the right information to support their children," says Vidhya Ramalingam, Founder and CEO of Moonshot. "Notifying a parent when a serious concern arises, with a route to more context, is a critical first step in giving families the chance to step in early and seek help. This kind of access is one of many measures that will be needed to keep young people safer while using ChatGPT."
Teen users who spend extended periods in ChatGPT will also receive more frequent prompts encouraging them to take a break. OpenAI describes the reminders as a way to support balanced technology habits rather than limit access to learning and creative tools.
The company says its wider work involves educators, mental health specialists, child development experts and youth safety organizations. Named collaborators include the American Federation of Teachers, the American Psychological Association, Common Sense Media and everyone.ai.
OpenAI has also joined the Family Online Safety Institute and says it will work with the organization on age-appropriate protections, parental tools and youth AI safety practices. Its educational resources for parents, teenagers and educators are available in more than 50 languages.
The new Study Mode setting is available through Parental Controls for linked teen accounts. When activated by a parent, it remains enabled by default each time the teenager begins a new conversation.
