In January 2026, OpenAI introduced an age prediction system that identifies whether a ChatGPT account likely belongs to a user under 18 and applies stricter content rules to those accounts. The system estimates age from account activity and usage patterns, so the under-18 experience can apply even if a user did not declare their age or provided a false one. If an adult account gets placed in the under-18 experience, the user can verify their age through a third-party service using a selfie, a government ID, or both. OpenAI's terms set 13 as the minimum age for using ChatGPT, with parental consent required for users under 18. In a September 2025 blog post, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said the company would prioritize teen safety over privacy and freedom. In August 2025, the parents of a 16-year-old in California sued OpenAI after their son died by suicide; OpenAI denied liability in November 2025, and the case is ongoing. In October 2025, Altman announced that verified adults would gain access to more permissive content, including erotica. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) opened a formal inquiry in September 2025 that named OpenAI among seven companies whose chatbots it would study, focusing on how these chatbots affect children and teens.