OpenAI announced this week that people who verify they are adults can now access mature content on ChatGPT, starting in December. The change follows a broader push to give the platform more flexibility while keeping safety rules in place.
The new policy works for both free and paid ChatGPT users. If you’re 18 or older and you can prove your age—by submitting a government ID, a photo ID, or another reliable proof—ChatGPT will unlock a broader range of topics. The same safety guardrails that prevent kids from seeing harmful content remain. Users under 18, and those who fail the age‑verification check, will still see the “mature content is not allowed” warning.
Why the change? August last year OpenAI barred all “adult” or “sexual” content, but that blanket ban meant even consenting adults could miss out on a wide range of life‑relevant information. Customer surveys showed that a significant portion of the service’s audience wanted more nuanced choices. In response, OpenAI added age verification and a content‑filter overlay so people can decide whether they want to see it.
From a technical point of view, the system will mark each conversation with an “adult content” tag if the user has granted the permission. The model’s safety layer will still enforce no illegal or disallowed sexual activity discussions. The system also logs user interactions to spot any abuse of the mature‑content feature.
OpenAI said that the move will keep the brand “responsible.”
“We’re giving people the ability to choose whether they want that layer of content rather than forcing everyone into a single box,” a spokesperson explained. “That’s a big step toward a more user‑centred AI experience.”
The rollout will begin in December. Users who want mature content will need to go through a quick age‑verification step. The policy will be enforced across all ChatGPT forms of service, including the free tier and the paid Pro and Enterprise plans. If a user is unable to prove that they’re 18+ they’ll see an “Adult content not available” filter that they can’t bypass.
The update is part of a larger strategy to let people use language models for work, learning and personal use, while also protecting children and other vulnerable groups. OpenAI is monitoring usage closely and will tweak the rules if it sees abuse. The new rights to mature content do not replace the company’s existing content‑moderation framework, which already blocks illegal or extremist material.
For now the policy means that from December users who can prove they’re adults will have more options in ChatGPT, while the platform will stay safe for younger users. If you’re 18+ and want to access mature content, keep an eye on OpenAI’s future announcements for the exact rollout dates and sign‑up instructions.
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