ChatGPT teen controls add parent-set Study Mode and risk alerts

Teen AI use is moving into default infrastructure

The debate over whether teenagers should use AI is being overtaken by the scale of actual use. In a July 16, 2026 post, OpenAI said nearly 9 in 10 teens on ChatGPT use it in a single week for learning, information, skill-building, or productivity. That puts the practical question on safeguards, defaults, and family controls rather than access alone.

The most concrete product change is parental control over Study Mode. Parents with linked teen accounts can now turn on Study Mode directly from Parental Controls, and when it is enabled, it becomes the default whenever the teen starts a new chat. The mode is designed to guide students through problems with questions, structured explanations, and reflection instead of simply giving an answer. OpenAI says early evaluation of tools such as Study Mode has shown promising gains in student performance.

The learning surface is also getting larger. OpenAI says 18 million weekly users now engage with interactive math and science experiences in ChatGPT, and those experiences have expanded to more than 300 topics, from integrals and mitosis to moon phases and photosynthesis. The company also added an audio pronunciation experience covering more than 61 languages. These numbers matter because they show ChatGPT becoming a recurring learning interface, not just a place where students ask isolated homework questions.

The safety side is stricter. If OpenAI’s system estimates that someone using ChatGPT is under 18, it automatically provides a more age-appropriate experience. The company lists stronger safeguards around graphic violence, self-harm, risky viral challenges, unhealthy body-image content, and dangerous, romantic, or sexual roleplay. Teens who spend extended time in ChatGPT will also receive more frequent break reminders.

Parent notifications are expanding too. OpenAI already offered notifications for certain high-risk situations, such as indications of potential self-harm. It now plans to include cases where a linked teen account has been deactivated for violating policies on violent threats or acts of violence online. The next test is whether these controls give families enough visibility without turning educational AI use into constant surveillance.