Does ChatGPT for Teens cost extra?

OpenAI lists ChatGPT for Teens on both the Free plan and paid personal ChatGPT plans, so a teen account does not need its own separate product. The teen experience is a mode applied to an eligible account rather than an add-on, and OpenAI has not published a price for it.

What can parents control in ChatGPT for Teens?

Parents linked to a teen account can set Quiet Hours that block access at chosen times, decide whether Study Mode is on by default, and receive safety notifications when ChatGPT detects a high-risk situation such as an eating disorder. Linking is opt-in: both the parent and the teen have to agree to it.

Can teens still use ChatGPT for homework?

Homework still works in ChatGPT for Teens, but Study Mode answers with guiding questions and step-by-step prompts instead of a finished essay. Homework Reminders appear when the system spots an attempt to hand the answer straight in, and push the teen back to Study Mode. Quizzes and learning visualisations sit alongside it.

How is ChatGPT for Teens different from regular ChatGPT?

Compared with the standard chatbot, ChatGPT for Teens refuses conversations about suicide, self-harm, and romantic or sexual topics, and is instructed not to suggest that it has feelings or consciousness. OpenAI says the restrictions follow its Under-18 Principles, which draw on developmental science, and are meant to cut emotional dependence on the assistant.

When does ChatGPT for Teens reach every country?

Global rollout of ChatGPT for Teens starts on 18 August 2026 for eligible teen accounts on Free and paid personal plans, and coverage lands country by country rather than everywhere at once. Australia, for example, is expected to reach full availability by 8 September 2026, so some teens will see the standard experience for a few more weeks.

OpenAI · 2026-08-18 · major

ChatGPT for Teens — OpenAI's age-gated mode for 13-to-17-year-olds

ChatGPT for Teens is a separate ChatGPT experience for ages 13 to 17 that blocks self-harm and romantic chat, sends homework into Study Mode, and gives parents Quiet Hours. OpenAI routes teens in by stated age or its own age estimate.

Homework reminder screen from OpenAI's ChatGPT for Teens — OpenAI via TechCrunch

OpenAI's teen mode locks down sensitive topics, steers homework into Study Mode, and hands parents a Quiet Hours switch.

Quick facts

Maker	OpenAI
Ages	13–17
Plans	Free and paid personal ChatGPT plans
Rollout	Global from 18 August 2026
Age routing	Stated age or OpenAI's own estimate
Parent tools	Quiet Hours, safety alerts, Study Mode default
Restricted topics	Suicide, self-harm, romantic and sexual chat

What is it?

ChatGPT for Teens adds a separate, age-gated version of the chatbot for 13-to-17-year-olds, launched on 18 August 2026. OpenAI switches it on when a person states a teen age or when its systems estimate the user is under 18. The teen version refuses talk about suicide, self-harm, and romantic or sexual topics, and will not suggest that it has feelings or consciousness.

How does it work?

Age routing is the gate: OpenAI reads the age a person entered on the account alongside its own estimate of whether the user is under 18, then serves the teen experience. Inside it, homework questions default to Study Mode, which replies with guiding questions and step-by-step support rather than a finished answer, and Homework Reminders fire when the system detects an attempt to pass the reply off as the teen's own work.

Why does it matter?

Teen use of chatbots is already normal — a 2025 Common Sense Media study found more than 70% of teens use AI chatbots for companionship, and about half use them regularly — so the safer defaults in ChatGPT for Teens reach students who were going to use the tool anyway. Parents get Quiet Hours and safety notifications for high-risk situations such as eating disorders. Allison Mishkin, OpenAI's head of child development, argues that "people learn more effectively when they actively engage and struggle with concepts."

Who is it for?

parents, teachers, and teens aged 13–17

Frequently asked questions

Does ChatGPT for Teens cost extra?: OpenAI lists ChatGPT for Teens on both the Free plan and paid personal ChatGPT plans, so a teen account does not need its own separate product. The teen experience is a mode applied to an eligible account rather than an add-on, and OpenAI has not published a price for it.
What can parents control in ChatGPT for Teens?: Parents linked to a teen account can set Quiet Hours that block access at chosen times, decide whether Study Mode is on by default, and receive safety notifications when ChatGPT detects a high-risk situation such as an eating disorder. Linking is opt-in: both the parent and the teen have to agree to it.
Can teens still use ChatGPT for homework?: Homework still works in ChatGPT for Teens, but Study Mode answers with guiding questions and step-by-step prompts instead of a finished essay. Homework Reminders appear when the system spots an attempt to hand the answer straight in, and push the teen back to Study Mode. Quizzes and learning visualisations sit alongside it.
How is ChatGPT for Teens different from regular ChatGPT?: Compared with the standard chatbot, ChatGPT for Teens refuses conversations about suicide, self-harm, and romantic or sexual topics, and is instructed not to suggest that it has feelings or consciousness. OpenAI says the restrictions follow its Under-18 Principles, which draw on developmental science, and are meant to cut emotional dependence on the assistant.
When does ChatGPT for Teens reach every country?: Global rollout of ChatGPT for Teens starts on 18 August 2026 for eligible teen accounts on Free and paid personal plans, and coverage lands country by country rather than everywhere at once. Australia, for example, is expected to reach full availability by 8 September 2026, so some teens will see the standard experience for a few more weeks.