ChatGPT
General-purpose AI from OpenAI — not built as a children’s product.
Our verdict: caution
Read the rationale below. This is not a certification, endorsement, or guarantee of safety.
- What it is
- A powerful general chatbot and multimodal assistant used for homework, coding, writing, and everyday questions. Designed for teens and adults, not as a kids sandbox.
- Age guidance
- OpenAI states ChatGPT is not meant for children under 13. Users must be at least 13 (or higher if local law requires). Under 18 need parent/guardian permission. Optional parental controls can link a teen account for some settings and limited safety notifications — parents cannot read the teen’s chats.
- Parent controls
- Optional parental controls for linked teen accounts: manage selected settings, quiet hours/schedules, and limited safety notifications. Parents cannot monitor or read conversations. Account linking can be removed. Separate from device-level Screen Time / Family Link controls.
- Privacy / data (UK/EU framing)
- EU/UK privacy policy: OpenAI Ireland Limited is controller for EEA/Switzerland users; UK users can complain to the ICO. Services not directed to children under 13. Free/Go tiers may show ads (personalisation subject to controls). Content may be used to improve models unless the user opts out via data controls. Processing commonly involves transfers outside the UK/EEA with SCCs/adequacy as described by OpenAI.
Why this verdict
Caution for ages 13–17 with active parent involvement. Avoid for under-13s (against OpenAI’s own guidance).
ChatGPT is extremely capable and widely used by older children — often without parents knowing. Teen parental controls help a little, but they do not give chat visibility. Free tiers may include advertising. This is an adult-grade tool with some teen safeguards, not a Children’s Code product.
Stay aware
- Under 13: do not set up a personal ChatGPT account. If AI is needed for school, an adult should operate it or use a purpose-built kids tool.
- Turn on parental controls only after reading OpenAI’s current help articles — features change.
- Talk about hallucinations, privacy (don’t paste personal data), and homework honesty rules.
Sources we opened
We only fill facts from pages we could fetch. If something is missing, we say so elsewhere on this page.