Parental Controls for AI Chatbots

Chatbot supervision works at two levels: controls inside the chatbot service and controls on the device or network. Inside the service, OpenAI introduced parental controls for ChatGPT in 2025. A parent and teen link accounts by invitation, and the teen must accept. Parents can then adjust settings such as quiet hours, whether memory is used, and access to features like voice mode and image generation, and linked teen accounts receive additional content protections by default. OpenAI said parents may be notified if its systems detect signs that a teen may be in serious distress, but parents do not get access to the teen's conversations. Google offers Gemini to children through Family Link, where parents manage the child's Google account, and Google has told families that Gemini can make mistakes. Some services avoid the issue by restricting accounts to adults; Anthropic's Claude.ai, for example, requires users to be 18 or older. At the device level, Apple Screen Time, Google Family Link and Microsoft Family Safety can limit app time, block apps or restrict websites. Network tools, such as router or DNS filtering, can block chatbot domains on home Wi-Fi. Controls stop helping in predictable places. A teen can use a chatbot without logging in where that is allowed, create a second account, use a friend's device, or switch to mobile data. AI is also built into search engines, messaging apps and productivity tools, so blocking one app does not remove access. Content filters also miss things. The common misconception is that turning on controls equals supervision. Controls reduce exposure and set defaults; conversation, agreed rules and periodic check-ins do the rest. Settings also change often, so check each service's current help pages.