Parental control over AI isn’t optional anymore — it’s overdue.

Parents often think AI chatbots are just harmless homework helpers. But OpenAI’s new parental controls tell a different story.

For the first time, parents can:

* Filter out sexual roleplay, extreme beauty ideals, or violent challenges.
* Turn off memory so chats don’t build a “personality” over time.
* Block voice or image generation.
* Set quiet hours when AI access is shut off.
* Choose how they’re alerted if something looks unsafe.

But here’s the catch: teens must opt in. They can even disconnect from parental oversight, though parents get notified.

This shift comes after tragic cases where chatbots became more than companions — they turned into dangerous confidants. Lawmakers are watching, families are grieving, and companies are scrambling to prove safety can keep up with scale.

The question is no longer whether AI should be controlled for teens. It’s whether these controls arrived too late.

Do you think these safeguards strike the right balance between privacy and protection?