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The ChatGPT team has played with the idea of an age-gating system for a while now, and finally, it is taking effect. This new feature will attempt to predict how old you are, all in an attempt to protect young users.
“We’re rolling out age prediction on ChatGPT to help determine when an account likely belongs to someone under 18, so we can apply the right experience and safeguards for teens,” the OpenAI account posted on X.
We’re rolling out age prediction on ChatGPT to help determine when an account likely belongs to someone under 18, so we can apply the right experience and safeguards for teens.Adults who are incorrectly placed in the teen experience can confirm their age in Settings > Account.…January 20, 2026
How does age prediction work?
Normally, companies use an age verification system for these types of situations. That is where a user has to provide some kind of ID to prove their age.
In this situation, ChatGPT attempts to guess the users age. It does this by looking at a combination of behavioural and account-level signals, including how long an account has existed.
These factors include the time of day the account is used most, usage patterns over time and a user’s stated age.
When the age prediction model estimates that an account may belong to someone under 18, ChatGPT automatically applies additional protections designed to reduce exposure to sensitive content. This includes:
- Graphic violence or gory content
- Viral challenges that could encourage risky or harmful behavior in minors
- Sexual, romantic or violent role play
- Depictions of self-harm
- Content that promotes extreme beauty standards, unhealthy dieting or body shaming
“This approach is guided by expert input and rooted in academic literature about the science of child development and acknowledges known teen differences in risk perception, impulse control, peer influence, and emotional regulation,” OpenAI stated in a blog post announcing this news.
“While these content restrictions help reduce teens’ exposure to sensitive material, we are focused on continually improving these protections, especially to address attempts to bypass our safeguards.”
Why is this happening?
Back in October, Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, took to X to address users concerns with ChatGPT’s approach to mental health. In the post on X, he stated that OpenAI would be introducing both an adult mode and an age-gating system for ChatGPT.
The idea here is two-fold. Firstly, it would eventually allow ChatGPT to introduce its planned adult mode, allowing for “erotica for verified adults”, as well as other 18+ content, and it would also limit the potentially dangerous effects of chatbots on teens.
ChatGPT, as well as other chatbots, has come under fire for the potentially harmful role it can play with under 18s. After a recent controversy with Elon Musk’s Grok where the chatbot was used to undress images of people without their consent, countries like the UK are now looking at ways to limit young people’s involvement with these tools.
While age-gating doesn’t completely stop these problems, it does drastically limit the number of people who are effected.
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