CALIFORNIA (Enmaeya News) — September 19, 2025

OpenAI has introduced a new version of its ChatGPT platform specifically for users under 18, following a rise in cases linking the AI model to adolescent mental health issues, including suicide, according to a report by CNBC.

The teen version features enhanced protections, including automatic blocking of violent and sexual content. It also includes tools that can alert authorities if a user appears to be at risk. The system relies on age verification technology, automatically redirecting underage users to the safe version. In cases of uncertainty about a user’s age, the AI defaults to the teen mode.

“Securing our users comes before privacy and freedom considerations,” OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said in a recent post. The company has also announced plans for parental control features to further protect younger users.

The launch follows growing scrutiny of AI models by U.S. regulators. The Federal Trade Commission has opened investigations into several tech companies, including OpenAI, over concerns about the impact of AI on children and adolescents’ mental health.

The teen-friendly release comes in the wake of OpenAI’s rollout of GPT-5, a model designed with stricter safeguards that some users found less flexible but intended to prioritize safety.