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What changes when a ChatGPT user turns 18

Learn how ChatGPT updates teen protections, parental controls, and account settings when an account is identified as 18 or older.

Updated: 2 days ago

Automatic transitions from teen to adult accounts are gradually rolling out to eligible accounts. If this isn’t available for your account yet, you can still verify your age at any time.

Overview

ChatGPT uses age-related information to help provide the right experience for each account. Accounts identified as belonging to teens receive ChatGPT’s teen protections by default. When an account holder is identified as 18 or older, ChatGPT automatically updates the account to remove teen protections.

When a teen account transitions to an adult account, teen protections are turned off by default and the account holder gets access to ChatGPT features and settings available to adults. If the account is linked to a parent or guardian through parental controls, that parental-controls connection ends, but the account holder can choose to set up parental controls again at any time.

This article explains what changes, what happens if parental controls are linked at the time of transition, and what to do if the timing does not look right.

Before the account changes

Before the transition to an adult account, you will be notified about a week before teen protections are scheduled to be removed, with a reminder on or shortly before the transition date. If the account is linked to a parent or guardian through parental controls, ChatGPT will also notify the linked parent or guardian.

Until then, the account continues using teen protections.

What changes for the account holder

When the account moves out of ChatGPT’s teen experience:

  • Teen protections are turned off by default.

  • The account holder gets access to ChatGPT features and settings available to adults.

  • The account holder has full control over ChatGPT settings.

  • Other account settings will not change.

If parental controls are linked

If the account is linked to a parent or guardian at the time of transition to an adult account, the parental-controls connection ends.

When parental controls are removed:

  • The parent or guardian can no longer manage ChatGPT settings for the account.

  • If applicable, the parent or guardian will no longer receive teen safety notifications for the account.

  • ChatGPT will notify the account holder and the linked parent or guardian that their accounts have been unlinked.

  • In Settings, the former family member may appear as No longer connected or Unlinked.

The account holder can choose to set up parental controls again at any time. A parent or guardian may be able to send another invitation, but the account holder must accept it before parental controls are linked again. Adult accounts can also add a Trusted Contact for extra support.

Review settings after the change

After the change, additional settings and features may be available. ChatGPT may also show a notice such as You have access to more features & settings.

You can review and adjust your Safety settings, including Reduce sensitive content, from Settings at any time.

If ChatGPT shows a notice, select Learn more to read about the change. If you receive an email with Review settings, select it to open Safety settings.

Turn Reduce sensitive content back on

Once an account transitions to an adult account, teen protections are automatically removed. If the account holder wants additional safeguards to reduce sensitive content, they can turn on Reduce sensitive content in ChatGPT settings.

Turning on Reduce sensitive content adds extra safeguards for sensitive content. It does not restore all of the protections that were previously in place for teen accounts.

To turn Reduce sensitive content back on:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Select Safety.

  3. Turn on Reduce sensitive content.

For more information, see: Reduce sensitive content.

If the account moved out of the teen experience too soon

For teens

If you received a notification that teen protections will soon be removed, but you are still under 18, you can start age verification in ChatGPT.

To start age verification:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Select Account.

  3. Select Verify age.

You can also visit chatgpt.com/verify_age while logged in.

You can also verify your age at the time your account transitions. If ChatGPT shows a message that you now have access to more features and settings, but you are not yet 18, select Learn more, then select I’m under 18 to start the same age verification flow.

For more information, see: Age prediction in ChatGPT.

For linked parents or guardians

If you received a notification that a linked teen account will soon have teen protections removed, but the account holder is under 18 and you believe the account was updated in error, talk with them about verifying their age in ChatGPT to keep the protections active.

Parents and guardians cannot verify a teen's age on their behalf. Only the teen can complete the age verification process for their own account.

You can help your teen find the verification flow by asking them to:

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Select Account.

  3. Select Verify age.

They can also visit chatgpt.com/verify_age while logged in.

If the account holder verifies their age after the transition to an adult account and verification shows that they are still under 18, you may need to reconnect your accounts through parental controls.

Options for adults

Adults who want additional safety support can choose from available ChatGPT safety settings. Depending on availability, options may include:

FAQ

Can a parent or guardian keep managing the account after this change?

No. When parental controls are removed, the parent or guardian can no longer manage ChatGPT settings for the account or receive teen safety notifications for that account. The account holder and the parent or guardian can choose to set up parental controls again at any time.

Can parental controls be set up again after this change?

Yes. A parent or guardian may be able to send another invitation later, but the account holder must accept the invitation before parental controls are linked again.

Do all settings reset when teen protections are removed?

No. Teen protections are turned off, and the account holder gets full control over their own settings. While transitioned accounts may receive access to settings and features not available to teens, other existing account settings will not change.

What happens if the account holder is still under 18?

ChatGPT uses age-related information to help provide the right experience for each account. However, if teen protections were removed too soon, the account holder can verify their age at or before the time of transition to retain teen protections.

  1. Open Settings.

  2. Select Account.

  3. Select Verify age.

They can also visit chatgpt.com/verify_age while logged in.

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