OpenAI will notify parents when their teenagers get suspended from ChatGPT for making violent threats or discussing acts of violence.

The AI company expanded its parental notification system to include alerts when linked teen accounts violate policies around violence. Parents with connected accounts will receive an "important update" message, with a longer explanation available through a "Learn More" link.

The feature builds on parental controls OpenAI launched last year. Those tools let parents schedule usage hours, reduce sensitive content, and receive alerts if ChatGPT detects self-harm indicators in their child's conversations.

OpenAI developed the violence notification system with Moonshot, a firm that monitors online extremism. "Notifying a parent when a serious concern arises, with a route to more context, is a critical first step in giving families the chance to step in early and seek help," said Moonshot founder Vidhya Ramalingam.

Response to mass shooting controversy

The update follows criticism after the 2025 Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia mass shooting. Canadian authorities discovered the suspect had used ChatGPT before the attack, but OpenAI failed to notify law enforcement when it banned the user's account.

CEO Sam Altman apologized for the oversight. Canadian officials summoned the company after reports revealed it had not alerted authorities about the banned account.

OpenAI has since committed to strengthening safety protocols and reporting credible threats to law enforcement.

Additional teen safety features

The company also added direct access to Study Mode through parental controls. This feature gives students hints before providing full answers to homework questions.

ChatGPT will now show more frequent break reminders to teenagers who spend extended time on the platform, aimed at promoting healthier technology habits.

The parental notification system represents OpenAI's latest effort to balance teen access to AI tools with safety oversight following regulatory pressure.