As I write this, two of my kids are playing Roblox and another is in his room playing Fortnite before a busy Saturday of soccer tournaments. I know firsthand how fast tech changes and how quickly kids adapt to it. My 11-year-old knows his way around AI tools better than some adults, which is both impressive and a little terrifying.
That's why OpenAI’s new parental controls for ChatGPT feel like an important step forward. Although some parents would probably agree that these controls are long overdue.
ChatGPT has been around for over three years and yet, we're only seeing these controls now. Even what OpenAI is giving us isn't great. However, they are better than nothing and should give parents like me a better way to set boundaries and feel more comfortable about how today's kids use AI.
What’s new in ChatGPT
Starting today, parents can link their account to their teen’s account and manage settings directly from their own dashboard. Once linked, teens get extra safeguards by default. These limitations include stricter filters on things like roleplay or challenges, less graphic content and no extreme beauty ideals.
Other new features include:
- Set quiet hours so ChatGPT can’t be used late at night
- Turn off voice mode if parents don’t want their teen chatting with the bot out loud
- Disable memory so conversations aren’t saved and the chatbot can't recall past chats.
- Block image generation if parents are worried about the types of images their minor might create.
- Opt out of model training so their teens’ chats aren’t used to train future AI models
If a teen tries to unlink their account, parents get notified. And if ChatGPT detects signs of distress or potential self-harm, parents can be alerted by email, text, or push notification.
Why this matters for families
These guardrails are a small start, but whether or not they are enough is yet to be seen. As we know, determined teens can find ways around things like this, and no AI filter is foolproof.
But as someone raising kids and who tests AI for a living, I’d much rather have the option to customize how my children use these tools than feel like I have no control at all.
Think of this update the same way you think about parental controls on other devices. You’re not blocking everything; you’re guiding the experience so it fits your family’s values.
My advice to parents:
- Set it up together. Let your teen be part of the process so it doesn’t feel like you’re spying. Let them know why these safeguards are necessary; it's not about them as much as it is about the uncertainty of AI. Artificial intelligence is still fairly new, and protections need to be in place for that reason. You’re showing them how to use AI responsibly.
- Use it as a teaching tool. Show them safe ways to use ChatGPT for school projects, creative writing or brainstorming. Show how AI can be used in positive, productive ways.
- Talk, don’t just toggle. The controls are helpful, but conversations about online safety, boundaries, and trust matter just as much.
The bigger picture
OpenAI says it’s working on an age prediction system that will eventually apply teen-appropriate settings automatically. Until then, these parental controls are the best way to ensure your kids have a safe, age-appropriate experience with ChatGPT.
For me, Parental Controls are about making sure my kids feel safe talking to me about how they’re using AI, while still giving them room to explore. What are your thoughts about the new Parental Controls for ChatGPT? Let me know in the comments.
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