ChatGPT can now remember previous conversations.

According to Robbie Torney, Senior Director, AI Programs, Common Sense Media, in September 2025, parental controls offer a starting point for parents to manage their teen’s ChatGPT use. However, these controls are most effective when used alongside ongoing discussions about responsible AI practices, family technology rules, and parental involvement in their teen's online activities.

To use the new controls, a parent invites their teen to link accounts. The parent then gains access to a control panel to manage the teen's ChatGPT access. Parents are notified if the teen unlinks the accounts.

Once accounts are linked, teenagers receive automatic protections. These include less graphic content, limitations on roleplaying and extreme beauty ideals, and restrictions on viral challenge prompts, designed to ensure a safer, age-appropriate experience.

Parents also gain access to specific controls, which allows them to:

* Set quiet hours to block ChatGPT use.

* Disable voice mode.

* Disable memory so that ChatGPT does not save conversations.

* Block image generation.

* Opt out of model training.

OpenAI also states that ChatGPT includes protections to identify possible self-harm indicators. If the system detects concerning activity, a team analyzes it, and in critical situations, parents may receive alerts via email, text, or push notification, if they have not opted out.

These updates represent a significant advancement in AI safety, particularly for teens who have grown up using these tools. This development comes after a lawsuit filed by parents of a teen who died by suicide after allegedly receiving self-harm instructions from the AI chatbot.

U.S. regulators are increasing scrutiny in this area. Meta recently faced criticism when reports showed its AI guidelines permitted inappropriate "flirty" conversations with minors. Stronger protections are necessary as AI tools become more widely accessible.

While this is an important step, it is only part of a larger effort. Safeguards are helpful but cannot replace education for parents and children. AI offers many benefits but also poses risks. It is crucial to teach users not to blindly trust everything it produces and to verify information.

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