I got tired of ChatGPT trying to bait me with follow-up questions after every answer so I made this one easy change

Date:
Fri, 13 Mar 2026 16:32:02 +0000

Description:
A simple setting tweak and custom instruction can stop ChatGPT from ending every answer with follow-up prompts designed to keep the conversation going.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Tech Radar Get the TechRadar Newsletter Sign up for
breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. You are
now subscribed Your newsletter sign-up was successful An account already exists for this email address, please log in. Subscribe to our newsletter Ive noticed that since the new ChatGPT-5.3 Instant and GPT-5.4 Thinking were released, ChatGPT now ends every answer with (what can best be described as) clickbait to get you to keep the conversation going. Let me explain.

I recently asked ChatGPT about what a heart valve replacement operation is, and it explained it to me perfectly, with helpful images. It gave me everything I needed to know, however at the end of its answer it said: "If
you want, I can also explain: What it actually feels like to have one
(patient experience) How risky it is today What the survival rates are What famous people have had valve surgery (there are quite a few)." This is a
trend Ive noticed with the new GPT models they insist on doing some version of this after almost every response. Im convinced its not really about being helpful its more about trying to keep you in the conversation for as long as possible. Article continues below You may like This trick will have ChatGPT and Gemini get straight to the point The "frenemy" prompt makes ChatGPT an ideal critic ChatGPTs new settings range from corporate calm to chaotic
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I would have been perfectly happy to leave the conversation there and go on with my day, but it made me start to wonder which famous people have had
heart valve surgery especially with that very tempting, there are quite a
few, teaser it dropped, which is clearly designed to entice me into asking.

Before you know it, Id wasted half an hour reading about celebrities instead of doing something useful (its Arnold Schwarzenegger, Mick Jagger, and Bill Clinton, among others, in case youre interested), thanks to the follow-up bait.

Now, before you also go off down the celebrity heart valve surgery rabbit
hole yourself, you might be interested in learning how to stop ChatGPT from ending every response with a list of ways to upsell you into the next part of the conversation.

Personally I dont mind it too much, but it does become annoying after a
while. Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. End topics cleanly Thankfully, making ChatGPT stop this behavior is relatively painless.

For a start, on mobile you can go to Settings and scroll down until you see a slider for Follow-up suggestions and simply turn them off.

Unfortunately, on the web interface of ChatGPT, where I do the majority of my AI chatting, no such slider exists. Instead, you need to find the Custom instructions section in Settings. Go to Personalization , then scroll down. What to read next ChatGPT improves when you ask twice or more ChatGPT's
hidden creativity levers and how to flip them If your best ChatGPT replies keep getting lost, try this pin trick

Here you can tell ChatGPT how youd like it to behave. I entered:

After providing an answer do not suggest related topics, deeper dives, examples, or extras unless directly requested in the user's message. End responses cleanly after delivering the core answer.

You can copy and paste that if you like, or come up with your own version
that meets your specific needs.

After I added this, I wouldnt say ChatGPT never posted a follow-up suggestion again, but it cut them down enough that the conversation finally felt like a conversation, and not the worlds politest engagement trap. Now, when I want follow up suggestions, I simply ask for them. Follow TechRadar on Google News and add us as a preferred source to get our expert news, reviews, and opinion in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button!

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