More and more parents are being asked by their kids if they can use ChatGPT. It’s understandable — the revolutionary AI service is everywhere, and it’s natural that children and especially teens would be curious about it.
OpenAI requires users to be 13 years old to sign up for an account, but younger children can use ChatGPT under a parent’s supervision. With the new ChatGPT parental controls, it’s also easier for families to manage how kids use AI safely.
On one hand, using a service like ChatGPT can offer numerous benefits to your teen or pre-teen, including homework help, learning opportunities, and entertainment. On the other hand, there are also potential risks to consider. Here are some of the pros and cons, recommendations for managing the risks, and advice for talking to your child about your decision.
When used thoughtfully, AI tools like ChatGPT can be beneficial for kids in a number of ways:
If your child is struggling with a particular subject or assignment, they can use AI services like ChatGPT to get helpful explanations and tips. This can help them understand the material better and complete their homework more efficiently. (But they shouldn't use AI to complete their homework — more on that later.)
AI services can offer children a unique opportunity to learn about new topics or explore their interests. For example, if your child is interested in dinosaurs, they can ask ChatGPT questions about the different types of dinosaurs or their habitats. AI can be helpful for more advanced interests, too: ChatGPT can be especially helpful for kids who want to learn how to code.
ChatGPT can spark your child’s imagination and help them flex their creative muscles. Your kid can ask ChatGPT to tell jokes, help them brainstorm story ideas, or even come up with scenes like what would happen if dinosaurs could talk.
AI chatbots perform best when the prompts are clear and direct. So, chatting with an AI service can help children develop their ability to ask questions, express themselves clearly, and listen to others.
By the time your kids graduate from high school, the ability to work and communicate with AI platforms will be an essential skill for many in college and in the workplace. From crafting ChatGPT prompts to brainstorm research paper topics to using one of the many AI platforms to write or check code, giving your kids access to AI services now will give them a head start on learning this crucial skill.
As a new and relatively unknown technology, there are obviously potential risks to letting your child use AI tools like ChatGPT.
If your child becomes too reliant on AI services, they may not develop important critical thinking and problem-solving skills. AI is a tool, but it isn’t a replacement for developing essential skills like the ability to develop a strong argument or research an important topic.
ChatGPT stores conversation data unless memory or training settings are turned off, or if parental controls are enabled. Children could also share personal details unintentionally.
Some AI services may not filter out inappropriate content, such as explicit language or violent images. This could be harmful or upsetting to your child. AI services like ChatGPT have also been known to “hallucinate” responses and come up with sources that don’t actually exist, so it’s essential to talk to your child about double-checking their information.
In rare cases, AI services could pose a safety risk if they give your child dangerous or inaccurate information, particularly in response to sensitive topics.
Your kid could be tempted to pass off the output they get from ChatGPT as their own. Make sure your kids understand that it’s not OK to present information from this tool as their own work, especially for homework.
Most schools have a zero-tolerance policy for plagiarism and consider it cheating. Talk to your child about the importance of using ChatGPT as a thought-starter, not as a replacement for their work.
In late 2025, OpenAI introduced built-in parental controls that let parents and teens link accounts, giving parents powerful new tools to manage safety and screen time.
Here’s how they work:
If ChatGPT’s system detects a potential serious safety risk, such as threats of self-harm, parents may receive a notification — only with the minimal information necessary to help protect their child.
Parents can also manage related OpenAI features from the same settings menu:
You can minimize the potential downsides while letting your child use ChatGPT by talking to your child and staying connected to how they’re using AI.
Explore ChatGPT as a family. This helps you model how to ask good questions and identify reliable answers.
Teach your child never to share personal information — like their real name, location, or school — with ChatGPT or any online platform.
Remind your child that AI can be wrong. Encourage them to double-check facts and ask, “How do you know that?”
Add ChatGPT use to your family’s digital device contract. Set limits if necessary, including when and how often they can use them — especially as it relates to schoolwork.
Even with parental controls, it helps to have another layer of oversight. BrightCanary lets you monitor what your child types on AI platforms like ChatGPT from their iPhone or iPad. You’ll receive real-time alerts for concerning topics, plus AI summaries that make it easy to understand how they’re using the app.
Staying involved is a big part of supporting your child as they learn to use AI apps like ChatGPT. BrightCanary makes it easier to stay connected.
How to set up a ChatGPT account to use with your child
You must be 18 years old to create an account with OpenAI to use ChatGPT. But you can create an account for yourself and use it with your child.
If you’re concerned about giving your child access to ChatGPT, there are some AI services that are explicitly kid-friendly. Here are a few:
Allowing your child to use AI services like ChatGPT is more a matter of “when” and “how” than “if,” given the way it’s changing work and school. As a parent, you can choose the best time to introduce your child to AI, and how to do it in a way that maximizes the benefits and manages the risks.
