OpenAI Unveils Teen ChatGPT as Pressure Mounts on AI Firms

- OpenAI plans to launch a new version of ChatGPT tailored for users under 18. - The initiative includes parental controls, stricter content limitations, and age-verification systems. On September 16, 2025, OpenAI announced it is developing a specialized version of ChatGPT for underage users. This new version addresses growing concerns about the impact of AI chatbots on the mental health and online safety of teenagers. The company’s decision follows mounting pressure from parents, regulators, and lawmakers who are demanding that tech companies adopt stringent safeguards for minors. The teen-focused ChatGPT will feature robust parental controls that allow guardians to monitor and manage usage. Parents can connect their accounts to their children's profiles, letting them set "blackout hours" for chatbot access and restrict advanced features like chat history and memory. Additionally, the system will detect signs of "acute distress" in conversations and notify parents. To ensure a safer user experience, OpenAI is implementing stricter content boundaries. This version of ChatGPT will exclude flirtatious interactions and refuse to discuss sensitive topics such as suicide or self-harm. If a user displays suicidal intent, OpenAI stated it will inform the parents, and if the company detects imminent danger, it will also intervene by contacting appropriate authorities. OpenAI is bolstering these protections with an improved age-prediction system. If the company cannot confidently verify a user's age, it will apply the teen-specific experience by default. In certain instances, OpenAI may require users to submit identification for age verification. On September 16, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wrote in a blog post, “We prioritize safety ahead of privacy and freedom for teens. This is a new and powerful technology, and we believe minors need significant protection.” This development comes amid heightened scrutiny of AI’s presence in teenagers' lives. A scheduled U.S. Senate hearing will address the potential risks AI poses to young users, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has also launched an investigation into the safety measures AI companies use to protect minors. Concurrently, parents are suing major tech firms, alleging that technological platforms have harmed their children's mental well-being. These lawsuits add pressure on companies to ensure accountability and enhance protective measures. According to CoinMarketCap on September 16, Ethereum (ETH) was trading at $1,904, with a 1.8% decrease in 24-hour trading volume as of 14:00 UTC.