ChatGPT
A guide for families with key information about ‘ChatGPT’, including the age rating, key terminology, risks and instructions for enabling parental controls and safety settings.
Disclaimer
The Artificial Intelligence (AI) landscape is rapidly changing. Due to the high frequency of changes in this space, please be aware that this ChatGPT app guide is correct as of July 2023.
ChatGPT is an online chatbot developed by OpenAI, which launched in November 2022 and is available on its website or the Apple App Store. ChatGPT uses artificial intelligence (AI) to form responses and communicate with users. Users can use ChatGPT to generate content, such as asking it to write a short story or essay, create computer code, or assist with a task the user is engaged in. ChatGPT has a large presence on both X (formerly 'Twitter') and YouTube, major fan communities can be also found on social media platforms such as Reddit and TikTok. ChatGPT also receives significant coverage by major international news outlets. ChatGPT is currently free to use, though it requires the user to make an account to access it. There is also a premium version of ChatGPT, which is available for a monthly subscription cost.
Official age rating
The minimum age restriction for ChatGPT users is 13, however it does not appear to have any rigorous age verification methods.
Users under the age of 13 are prevented from registering for ChatGPT and using its services, providing the correct date of birth has been entered.
Users under 18 need the permission of their parent or carer to use the app.
There are no differences in content or platform functionality for users under 18.
How children and young people use the app
Many children and young people are already engaging with AI chatbots on a range of apps and platforms – for example Snapchat, which has integrated the GPT3 (Large Language Model AI produced by Open AI) to create its own chatbot on the Snapchat platform.
ChatGPT itself is an emerging app among children and young people. AI chatbots, like ChatGPT are generally popular with younger users due to the speed at which they can provide information on an infinite range of topics, as well as their friendly and conversational style interface.
Some young people like to use ChatGPT to help analyse and reframe their CV or cover letter for their first jobs. Other young people have used ChatGPT as a tutor for specific concepts, such as learning how to code. The app can also be used to gain some basic knowledge of a topic, such as a historical event, before learning more information elsewhere. Alternatively, young people may seek to use ChatGPT as a creative outlet to develop story or character ideas.
ChatGPT has been controversial as some young people have used it to complete their schoolwork. Additionally, some young people have consulted ChatGPT for mental wellness advice, against the recommendations of OpenAI.
Key features and terminology
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This is short for ‘artificial intelligence’ and refers to the ability of a computer or machine to replicate human intelligence.
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Chatbot is short for ‘chat robot’ and is a type of AI that processes information through a chat function.
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This is the premium paid-for version of ChatGPT, which allows the user near-constant access to ChatGPT and the ability to use plugins.
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Plugins are pieces of software developed by third parties that enable additional features for ChatGPT, for example, the ability to find a restaurant or calculate a meal’s calories.
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Content refers to any text that ChatGPT has written.
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The ‘GPT’ in ChatGPT is short for ‘generative pre-trained transformer’ and generally refers to the ability of AI to form a response to a user.
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A hallucination refers to an incorrect fact generated by ChatGPT.
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Haptic feedback refers to the ability of ChatGPT to produce a notification by vibrating a mobile device. This vibration only occurs as the response is being posted within the chat on the app, rather than an alert or notification that would appear on a device when you are not using the app.
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History refers to records of previous chats kept by ChatGPT.
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A ‘Large Language Model’ or ‘LLM’ is an algorithm that is trained on large amounts of data that writes sentences based on predicting which words would typically go together in expressing an idea.
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A prompt is a message typed by the user to ChatGPT, such as a question.
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Prompt engineering refers to creating a series of prompts with the purpose of breaking one or multiple of ChatGPT’s safeguards to discuss a topic or fulfil a request it is normally prohibited from engaging in.
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Training refers to chat data being collected and used to ‘train’ ChatGPT in providing better responses.
Potential risks
Content
All of the content generated on ChatGPT is user driven, which means users will only see content that they have asked the app to share with them. This creates a risk that if a child is interested in harmful content (perhaps due to other vulnerabilities) and searches for it on the app, there are few safeguards to prevent them from finding it. ChatGPT has limited safeguards in place to prevent it from discussing a range of potentially inappropriate topics, such as erotic chats, illegal activities, and harmful activities. Despite safeguards being in place, they should not be solely relied upon, as users have been noted to find and share ways of breaking these safeguards. Speak to your child about the risks of using ChatGPT as a source of information, especially with regards to potentially delicate or harmful topics. Encourage your child to talk to you or another trusted adult if they read something on ChatGPT that they find upsetting.
On the ChatGPT web version, Open AI offers a disclaimer which states that it could produce inaccurate information from time to time. However, this disclaimer is not offered for users of the app. When a user submits a request, the AI technology gathers information on a subject from existing online material and puts it together in a comprehensive and readable format. The AI technology used on ChatGPT cannot distinguish between information that is factually sound and false information, so there is a risk it could be presenting inaccurate information. It is possible that ChatGPT can potentially generate misinformation about a certain topic. This means children and young people may be exposed to false or misleading information on a particular subject. Equally, users could be exposed to forms of disinformation, which is factually incorrect information that it produced and spread with the intention of deceiving the reader. Currently, ChatGPT does not share its sources of information with users, so it can be difficult to establish the reliability of the information it provides. Parents and carers should note that content produced by ChatGPT is not quality assured and sources of information are not checked. It should also be noted that ChatGPT can only access data published up until September 2021. Information or events that have taken place since this date will not necessarily be referenced. Speak to your child about spotting misinformation and fact-checking information they have found on the app. Encourage them to talk to you if they have been exposed to content on ChatGPT that they find upsetting or confusing.
There is the potential for younger users to be exposed to language that is not suitable or age appropriate within the chats. Users can ask ChatGPT to avoid saying specific words or phrases anytime during a conversation and it will attempt to follow this instruction as accurately as possible. While this may help reduce exposure to concepts or language that may confuse your child, users should note that ChatGPT may not always be successful in filtering out a word or phrase despite the instruction to do so.
Connecting with others
It is currently not possible to connect with others through ChatGPT. This means users are not able to interact with any other users on the app.
Users can use ChatGPT to discuss people they know in real-life, though users are heavily discouraged from sharing sensitive personal details about that person. ChatGPT warns the user against disclosing personal details of themselves or others if they do so in a chat. Talk to your child about the importance of not sharing any personal or identifiable information online.
Parents and carers should also advise their children to treat their conversations with ChatGPT as if they were occurring in a public setting with a stranger. It is recommended that parents and carers check in with their children about their conversations with ChatGPT.
User behaviour
The functionality of ChatGPT presents some real-world behaviour risks for younger users. It has been reported that some young people have been found to use AI chatbots like ChatGPT to assist with schoolwork. Remind your child that any content written by ChatGPT and submitted as their own would be classed as plagiarism and could result in a range of consequences within their school setting and their future career choices.
There is also the risk that some users become reliant on the speed and information provided by ChatGPT, which is offered in a clear and comprehensive way in a matter of seconds. Compared to researching a topic through traditional search engines, using ChatGPT gives its users instantaneous results. Whilst the immediacy offered by the app might seem appealing to some users, it is important that your child understands that they cannot solely rely on the information provided by ChatGPT. Instead, talk to your child about the importance of cross referencing the information the app provides with trusted sources.
It is important that young people understand that ChatGPT is purely an artificial intelligence tool and that there is no human involvement in the chat process. ChatGPT has the ability to discuss almost all topics, including offering advice. Despite Open AI stating that the app should not be used as a source of advice, this can be difficult for a young person to understand and mitigate, especially if they are vulnerable or in a state of crisis. Remind your child that they should always speak to a trusted adult or helpline if they need advice or support with a troubling issue, and that an AI chatbot is not a suitable alternative.
Design, data and costs
Interactions with ChatGPT are collected and reviewed by OpenAI as user data. OpenAI states that this is to improve the accuracy and capability of ChatGPT. This means that personal information shared in a conversation with ChatGPT will potentially be seen by human ‘AI Trainers’ of ChatGPT.
Remind your child about the risks involved with disclosing personal information online and talk to them about the implication of sharing personal data with the platform.
Unlike many other apps, there are no third-party advertisements or explicitly targeted advertisements on ChatGPT. Also, the are no opportunities to make in-app purchases within the app. However, users are encouraged to ‘upgrade to Plus’ in their conversations with ChatGPT. ChatGPT Plus advertises availability during high demand, faster response speeds, and priority access to new features. Speak to your child about how subscriptions work and remind them that this is a business strategy for Open AI to make money, rather than offering a huge benefit to users.
Tips for keeping your child safe
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Parents and carers should know that chat data and history is collected by OpenAI for usage in improving the capabilities of ChatGPT. However, users can opt out of their data being used to train ChatGPT. Users may wish to keep their own record of their chats with ChatGPT, as well as the data shared with OpenAI.
To opt out of data training (desktop):
- In a chat with ChatGPT, select the three dots icon at the bottom left.
- Choose the gear icon labelled ‘Settings’ and select ‘Data controls’.
- Select ‘Chat history & training’ to disable chat history being used for AI training. The button will turn grey to indicate this.
To opt out of data training (iOS):
- In a chat with ChatGPT, select the three dots icon at the top right.
- Choose the gear icon labelled ‘Settings’ and select ‘Data controls’.
- Toggle off the option for ‘Chat history & training’.
To clear all chats (desktop):
- In a chat with ChatGPT, select the three dots icon at the bottom left.
- Choose the gear icon labelled ‘Settings’ and select ‘General’.
- Select the red button labelled ‘Clear’.
- On the prompt labelled ‘Clear your conversation history - are you sure?’ press the green button labelled ‘Confirm deletion’.
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- In a chat with ChatGPT, select the three dots icon at the bottom left.
- Choose ‘Clear conversations’ and select the checkmark labelled ‘Confirm clear conversations’.
To clear all chats (iOS):
- In a chat with ChatGPT, select the three dots icon at the top right of your screen.
- Choose the gear icon labelled ‘Settings’ and select ‘Data controls’.
- Select ‘Clear chat history’ and select ‘Confirm’ to erase all chat history.
To export your data (desktop):
- In a chat with ChatGPT, select the three dots icon at the bottom left.
- Choose the gear icon labelled ‘Settings’ and select ‘Data controls’.
- Select ‘Export’ and choose ‘Confirm export’.
- Data will be sent to the email address that the account is registered with and may take some time depending on how much data is present.
To export your data (iOS):
- In a chat with ChatGPT, select the three dots icon at the top right.
- Choose the gear icon labelled ‘Settings’ and select ‘Data controls’.
- Select ‘Export data’ and choose ‘Confirm export’.
- Data will be sent to the email address that the account is registered with and may take some time depending on how much data is present.
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There are no settings available to manage content and interactions. ChatGPT has built-in filters regarding the following topics: illegal activities, adult sexual content, hateful or violent content, harassment, harmful activities, fraudulent or deceptive activities, political campaigning and personal privacy. ChatGPT will remind users that it cannot answer or discuss activities in these categories if the user writes a prompt that falls into one of these categories. However, ChatGPT will not always detect if a user engages in discussion about a blocked topic.
To manage chat history:
- On the homepage, select the three dots icon on the top left of the screen.
- Select ‘Settings’ and choose ‘Data controls’.
- Toggle off the option for ‘Chat history and training’.
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There are no specific settings to report or block people on ChatGPT. Users can provide feedback to a specific message written by ChatGPT.
To provide feedback on a chat (desktop):
- On a message written by ChatGPT, select the ‘thumbs up’ icon to signal that the response was appropriate. Users can optionally add what they liked about the response.
- Alternatively, select the ‘thumbs down’ icon to signal that the response was inappropriate. Users can optionally add what they disliked about the response.
To provide feedback on a chat (iOS):
- In a chat with ChatGPT, select and hold a message written by ChatGPT.
- Choose the ‘thumbs up’ icon to signal that the response was appropriate.
- Alternatively, choose the ‘thumbs down’ icon to signal that the response was inappropriate.
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There are no features available that allow users to manage their time on the site. Instead, explore the parental controls on your individual devices and broadband service, which may allow you to set time limits and controls. iOS users of ChatGPT will feel vibrations while using ChatGPT.
To disable vibrations (iOS):
- In the ChatGPT app, tap the three dots icon on the top right.
- Choose ‘Settings’ and find the toggle labelled ‘Haptic Feedback’.
- Toggle off this option to disable vibrations.
To manage purchases on an iOS device:
- Go to ‘Settings’> ‘Screen time’ and scroll down to ‘Content and privacy restrictions’.
- Select ‘iTunes & app store purchases’ and select the option ‘Don’t allow’.
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Users can delete their ChatGPT account, though users should note that they will be unable to reuse their email or phone number if they want to use ChatGPT again in the future. All user data, such as their profile and conversations will be deleted in the event they delete their account.
To delete your account (desktop):
- In a chat with ChatGPT, select the three dots icon at the bottom left.
- Go to ‘Settings’ and choose ‘Data controls’.
- Select ‘Delete’ and choose ‘Refresh login’ to confirm account deletion.
To delete your account (iOS):
- In the ChatGPT app, tap the three dots icon on the top right.
- Choose ‘Settings’ and select ‘Data Controls’.
- Select ‘Delete Account’ to confirm account deletion.
Additional tips
OpenAI has published a frequently asked questions page which may help answer additional questions about ChatGPT.
There is currently no officially supported version of ChatGPT on Android devices, though OpenAI is developing one. Parents and carers should be mindful of other chatbot apps available on Android that advertise as ChatGPT or as being similar to ChatGPT, but which may not have the same safeguards and support as the version developed by OpenAI.
Additionally, it should be noted that although ChatGPT is a free and public-facing tool that can assist and chat with users in a friendly manner, it is primarily a research tool designed to understand how artificial intelligence learns and interacts with human users. Parents and carers may want to discuss ethical behaviour online with their children before they engage with ChatGPT.
More information about AI chatbots, such as ChatGPT, can be found in this resource.