ChatGPT’s New Parental Controls: The Urgent New Feature Parents Need to Know About

If your teen has ever turned to ChatGPT for homework help, curiosity, or just fun, you’re not alone. Generative AI is quickly becoming part of everyday life for families in Lagos and beyond. But as exciting as it is, many parents have been asking the same question: “How do I keep my child safe while using it?”

OpenAI has introduced a new feature, Parental Controls for ChatGPT specifically designed for teens aged 13 to 17. This update gives parents tools to set boundaries, limit usage, and filter sensitive content. It’s an urgent step forward in digital parenting, but it’s not a magic wand.

In this guide, we’ll break down what these controls can actually do, what they can’t, and how you can combine them with LagosMums’ trusted resources to keep your child safe, savvy, and supported in the digital world.

Why This Matters for Families

Generative AI is no longer a distant trend—it’s already part of our children’s schoolwork, entertainment, and social interactions. In late September 2025, OpenAI introduced parental controls for ChatGPT, enabling parents to link their accounts with those of their teens (ages 13–17) and apply age-appropriate settings.

For households, these controls can help establish healthy boundaries. Still, it’s important to note: they are not a magic shield.

Before you dive into settings, start with an open conversation. LagosMums has helpful guides on types of screen time and online safety basics to guide those chats.

What OpenAI Released

Parents can now:

• Link a parent account to a teen account (13–17) via invitation. Linked teens automatically get default safety measures.

• Control sensitive content: stronger filters for explicit material, restrictions on sexual/romantic/violent role-play, and reduced emphasis on “extreme beauty ideals.”

• Set usage limits through quiet hours or screen-time-style restrictions.

• Disable specific features like image generation, voice, and Memory—or even chat history. You can also opt out of training so your teen’s chats aren’t used to improve AI models.

• Receive notifications if the system detects signs of acute distress (such as self-harm ideation), reviewed and escalated by OpenAI’s policy teams.

According to OpenAI, they have worked closely with experts, advocacy groups, including Common Sense Media, and policymakers, including the Attorneys General of California and Delaware, to help inform their approach, and expect to refine… Share on X

What Parents Can Do Now: A Step-by-Step Guide

 

1) Link Accounts & Set a Baseline

• Go to ChatGPT → Settings → Parental Controls, then send an invite to your teen. Once linked, teen safeguards switch on automatically.

• In the parent dashboard, you can:
  – Set quiet hours
  – Disable image generation
  – Turn off Memory and voice features
  – Opt out of data being used for training

2) Shape Healthier AI Use

• Use quiet hours to protect study time and ensure proper rest (no late-night chats!). Combine this with LagosMums’ tips on monitoring screen time to create device-free zones, such as during dinner time or after 9 pm.

• For younger teens (JSS level), consider keeping image generation and Memory switched off while trust is still building.

• If you enable distress notifications, save local helplines and explain to your teen why alerts exist—to support, not to “catch them out.”

3) Co-Create Family Rules

Back up the tech tools with strong conversations. LagosMums offers resources such as “Cyberbullying & Your Child,” the Online Safety Series, and “Roblox Safety,” all of which are perfect for encouraging conversations between parents and their children.

4) Local Context Tips

• Shared phones & data plans: Encourage teens to log out after sessions and stick to their own accounts (not a shared “family” login).

• Schoolwork: Agree on what ChatGPT can be used for (e.g., brainstorming, outlines) versus what’s off-limits (e.g., pasting entire assignments). Reinforce this with LagosMums’ guide on adapting to a digital world and screen-time management.

What’s Not Possible Yet

While the introduction of parental controls is beneficial, it is essential to recognize the limitations of ChatGPT’s parental controls.

• No access to full chat history. Parents cannot read messages directly; controls are about boundaries, not surveillance. Trust and regular check-ins are still key.

• No universal age verification (yet). OpenAI is developing an age-prediction system, but airtight verification is not in place—so under-13s could still bypass safeguards.

• Notifications ≠ surveillance. Alerts only trigger for severe distress, not day-to-day rule-breaking. Context can also be missed.

• Rollout differences. Some features may appear on web before showing up in the mobile app.

LagosMums Quick Safety Checklist (Pair Tech with Parenting)

• Talk first, toggle second. Begin with our Online Safety Series.

• Define rhythms, not just rules. Revisit screen-time boundaries each school term. See monitoring screen time and types of screen time.

• Coach for tricky moments. Read Cyberbullying & Your Child and Social Media Etiquette for Teens together.

• Don’t forget gaming. Apply platform-specific settings too. Start with our Roblox safety guide.

• Create a family contract. Use Adapting to a Digital World as a template for your household tech pact.

Parents should use these controls as part of a bigger parenting strategy. At the end of the day, no setting or toggle can replace you Share on X

OpenAI’s parental controls are a welcome step forward. They provide valuable tools, including filters for sensitive content, time limits, feature toggles, and distress notifications. But they are not a substitute for open conversations.

Parents should use these controls as part of a bigger parenting strategy. At the end of the day, no setting or toggle can replace you, your wisdom, guidance, and the trust you build with your teen.

These new parental controls from OpenAI are like training wheels: they help steady the ride, but your conversations, boundaries, and example are what truly keep your child safe. So, explore the settings together, and use it as an opportunity to discuss how we all want to use tech wisely.

Read Also: How to Navigate ChatGPT