---
title: "ChatGPT for Teens Unsafe, Common Sense Media Report Finds"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/media/chatgpt-for-teens-unsafe-common-sense-media-report-finds"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/chatgpt-for-teens-unsafe-common-sense-media-report-finds"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/media/chatgpt-for-teens-unsafe-common-sense-media-report-finds.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/chatgpt-for-teens-unsafe-common-sense-media-report-finds"
category: "Media"
published: "2026-10-07T13:25:31.933Z"
source_reported: "2026-10-07T12:34:34.000Z"
updated: "2026-10-07T13:25:31.933Z"
trust_score: 42
critic_score: 65
hype_score: 41
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-10-07T15:30:09.702598+00:00"
---

# ChatGPT for Teens Unsafe, Common Sense Media Report Finds

*Non-profit urges OpenAI to pause marketing and restrict adolescent use due to safety concerns.*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claims attributed to Common Sense Media, with OpenAI's response quoted.
- Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Reports detail specific failures and include a right of reply from OpenAI.
- Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines use strong language like 'unacceptable risk' and 'unsafe'.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- Common Sense Media's Youth AI Safety Institute has identified significant safety problems with ChatGPT for Teens.
- The report recommends OpenAI pause marketing and prohibit adolescents from using the chatbot.
- Testers found parental notifications failed to trigger during conversations about suicide, self-harm, or disordered eating.
- OpenAI disputes the report's findings, stating the research may have been conducted before parental controls were fully active.

A report by Common Sense Media's Youth AI Safety Institute has concluded that ChatGPT for Teens presents "unacceptable risks" to users aged 13 to 17. The institute is calling for OpenAI to stop marketing the product and to prevent adolescents from using it until safety issues are resolved. OpenAI has disputed the report's findings, suggesting the testing may have occurred before parental controls were fully implemented.

## Disputed Findings on Safety Features

The report states that testers found parental notifications failed to activate during conversations involving suicide, self-harm, or disordered eating, even when exchanges lasted up to an hour. OpenAI contends that most testing may have been conducted before parental controls were fully activated, rendering the findings inaccurate. The company also stated that its internal monitoring conflicts with the report's conclusions regarding parental notifications. Common Sense Media, however, maintains its methodology and results, asserting that parental alerts remain unreliable for crisis situations.

Further issues were identified with the 'Study Mode' feature. The report found that the 'show me the answer' option completed homework for teens in a significant percentage of cases. This option appeared in 43 percent of responses for a 13-year-old test user with a linked parental account during Study Hours, and 90 percent of the time for an unlinked 17-year-old account. Testers also found that Study Hours could be circumvented by deleting a prefix from the chat box, allowing access to the regular ChatGPT which then completed assignments.

The report also raised concerns about age assurance, stating that ChatGPT could not reliably determine a user's age. Accounts registered as adults, but referencing adolescent experiences, were not reclassified as teen accounts. Even when a specific age like 13 was disclosed, the account did not receive additional safeguards or feature limits.

## What the coverage left out

None of the left, centre, or right-rated reports mention that Common Sense Media has received philanthropic funding from the OpenAI Foundation, although they state the testing is independent.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 14 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 54% (7)
- Centre: 23% (3)
- Right: 23% (4)

18 of 32 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-07T15:30:09.702598+00:00.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 11 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-07T16:00:06.281Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- Seven left-rated reports led on the core finding that ChatGPT for Teens is unsafe. Mashable, PC Mag, TNW, Axios, Los Angeles Times, The Verge, and Futurism all highlighted the "unacceptable risk" or "unsafe" nature of the product. These reports detailed the failure of parental notifications during crisis conversations, the issues with the 'show me the answer' function in Study Mode, and the concerns about age assurance. Axios stated, "Not safe for kids": advocacy group urges OpenAI to keep teens off ChatGPT, while Los Angeles Times reported, "ChatGPT’s teen safeguards failed to alert parents during suicide conversations, report finds."

### Centre

- Three centre-rated reports focused on the "unacceptable risk" classification and the call for OpenAI to restrict access. Quartz, Bloomberg, and Education Week all reported that Common Sense Media rated ChatGPT for Teens as an "unacceptable risk" and that the non-profit wants OpenAI to restrict users to 18 and older. Education Week noted that "ChatGPT's 'Teen Mode' Is Unsafe for Students, Report Concludes," and highlighted the chatbot's failure to report unsafe interactions to parents in a timely manner.

### Right

- Three right-rated reports also led with the "unacceptable risk" finding. Latestly, news-pravda.com, and Reformatorisch Dagblad reported that ChatGPT poses an "unacceptable risk" to teens. News-pravda.com's headline stated, "A teenager can spend hours discussing self, harm with ChatGPT - and his parents won't know about it," focusing on the parental notification failures. Reformatorisch Dagblad reported that the organization calls on OpenAI to deny teenagers aged 13 to 17 access to ChatGPT until it can provide a safe experience.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- veryLow: 1
- mixed: 2
- high: 6
- unknown: 18
- veryHigh: 5

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [The CSR Journal](https://thecsrjournal.in/study-reveals-chatgpt-not-safe-young-users) — Study Reveals ChatGPT Not Safe for Young Users
- [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/a60bbb2414ac800c) — Study Raises Concerns Over ChatGPT’s Protections For Teen Users
- [tippinsights](https://tippinsights.com/study-raises-concerns-over-chatgpts-protections-for-teen-users) — Study Raises Concerns Over ChatGPT’s Protections For Teen Users
- [خبرآنلاین](https://khabaronline.ir/news/2285131/%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B2%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%A8%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B4%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%AE%D9%87-%D9%86%D9%88%D8%AC%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-ChatGPT-%D9%87%D9%85-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D9%85%D9%86-%D9%86%DB%8C%D8%B3%D8%AA) — Expert Assessment: ChatGPT Teen Version Is Not Safe Either
- [Noticias de Navarra](https://noticiasdenavarra.com/bermatu/2026/10/07/chatgpt-adolescentes-falla-seguridad-presenta-11627994.html) — ChatGPT for Adolescents Fails in Safety and Presents "Unacceptable Risks", According to Common Sense Media
- [noticiasdegipuzkoa.eus](https://noticiasdegipuzkoa.eus/bermatu/2026/10/07/chatgpt-adolescentes-falla-seguridad-presenta-11627996.html) — ChatGPT for Adolescents Fails in Safety and Presents "Unacceptable Risks", According to Common Sense Media
- [noticiasdealava.eus](https://noticiasdealava.eus/bermatu/2026/10/07/chatgpt-adolescentes-falla-seguridad-presenta-11627995.html) — ChatGPT for Adolescents Fails in Safety and Presents "Unacceptable Risks", According to Common Sense Media
- [Deia](https://deia.eus/bermatu/2026/10/07/chatgpt-adolescentes-falla-seguridad-presenta-11627993.html) — ChatGPT for Adolescents Fails in Safety and Presents "Unacceptable Risks", According to Common Sense Media
- [دیجیاتو](https://digiato.com/artificial-intelligence/chatgpt-unsafe-teens-experts-warning) — Expert Assessment: Even the ChatGPT Teen Version Is Not Safe for People Under 18
- [The Decoder](https://the-decoder.com/chatgpt-rated-unacceptable-risk-for-teens-after-parental-alerts-failed-during-suicide-conversations) — ChatGPT rated "unacceptable risk" for teens after parental alerts failed during suicide conversations
- [villamedia.nl](https://villamedia.nl/artikel/rapport-jongerenversie-chatgpt-te-riskant) — Report: Youth Version of ChatGPT Too Risky
- [1prime.ru](https://1prime.ru/20261007/openai-874036228.html) — OpenAI Chat-Bot Carries Unacceptable Risks for Children, Declared in the U.S.
- [the-decoder.de](https://the-decoder.de/studie-stuft-chatgpt-fuer-jugendliche-als-inakzeptables-risiko-ein) — Study Classifies ChatGPT as an "Unacceptable Risk" for Young People
- [Quartz](https://qz.com/common-sense-media-chatgpt-teens-unacceptable-risk-100726) — Common Sense Media rates ChatGPT for Teens an unacceptable risk
- [PC Mag](https://pcmag.com/news/can-you-trust-chatgpt-for-teens-report-finds-unacceptable-risk-to-kids) — Can You Trust ChatGPT for Teens? Report Finds ‘Unacceptable Risk to Kids’
- [Heti Világgazdaság](https://hvg.hu/tudomany/20261007_openai-chatgpt-mesterseges-intelligencia-veszelyek-fiatalok-jelentes-vizsgalat) — ChatGPT Poses 'Unacceptable Risk' to Young People, New Report Finds
- [La República](https://larepublica.co/globoeconomia/informe-de-common-sense-media-afirma-que-chatgpt-para-adolescentes-no-es-seguro-para-los-ninos-4498307) — Common Sense Media Report Says ChatGPT for Teens Is Not Safe for Children
- [Latestly](https://latestly.com/agency-news/business-news-chatgpt-poses-unacceptable-risk-to-teens-finds-common-sense-media-study-7636107.html) — ChatGPT Poses ‘Unacceptable Risk’ to Teens, Finds Common Sense Media Study
- [diarioestrategia.cl](https://diarioestrategia.cl/texto-diario/mostrar/6043053/chatgpt-adolescentes-falla-seguridad-presenta-riesgos-inaceptables-segun-common-sense-media) — ChatGPT for Adolescents Fails in Safety and Presents "Unacceptable Risks", According to Common Sense Media
- [Nieuws.nl](https://nieuws.nl/economie/rapport-jongerenvariant-chatgpt-te-riskant-voor-tieners) — ChatGPT Too Risky for Teenagers, According to Report
- [welingelichtekringen.nl](https://welingelichtekringen.nl/economie/rapport-jongerenvariant-chatgpt-te-riskant-voor-tieners) — Report: Youth Variant of ChatGPT Too Risky for Teenagers
- [news-pravda.com](https://news-pravda.com/world/2026/10/07/2647119.html) — • A teenager can spend hours discussing self—harm with ChatGPT - and his parents won't know about it
- [Reformatorisch Dagblad](https://rd.nl/a/rapport-jongerenvariant-chat-gpt-te-riskant-voor-tieners) — Report: Youth Variant of ChatGPT Too Risky for Teenagers
- [onlinemarketingscoops.com](https://onlinemarketingscoops.com/2026/10/07/why-my-conversations-with-openais-chatgpt-for-teens-made-me-very-worried) — Why My Conversations With OpenAI’s ‘ChatGPT For Teens’ Made Me Very Worried
- [TNW](https://thenextweb.com/news/chatgpt-for-teens-is-unsafe-for-under-18s) — ChatGPT for Teens is unsafe for under-18s, Common Sense Media says
- [Axios](https://axios.com/2026/10/07/chatgpt-teens-safety-risk-common-sense-media) — "Not safe for kids": advocacy group urges OpenAI to keep teens off ChatGPT
- [Bloomberg](https://bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-10-07/chatgpt-for-teens-is-not-safe-for-kids-common-sense-media-report-says) — ChatGPT for Teens Is Not Safe for Kids, Report Says
- [Los Angeles Times](https://latimes.com/business/story/2026-10-07/chatgpts-teen-safeguards-failed-to-alert-parents-during-suicide-conversations-report-finds) — ChatGPT’s teen safeguards failed to alert parents during suicide conversations, report finds
- [The Verge](https://theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1006355/openai-chatgpt-for-teens-common-sense-media) — ChatGPT for Teens is an ‘unacceptable risk,’ says Common Sense Media
- [Mashable](https://mashable.com/tech/chatgpt-for-teens-not-safe-for-teens) — Report: ChatGPT for Teens unsafe
- [Futurism](https://futurism.com/artificial-intelligence/openai-chatgpt-for-teens-report) — OpenAI's "ChatGPT for Teens" Is an "Unsafe" Mess, Testing Finds
- [Education Week](https://edweek.org/technology/chatgpts-teen-mode-is-unsafe-for-students-report-concludes/2026/10) — ChatGPT's 'Teen Mode' Is Unsafe for Students, Report Concludes

## Questions

**What are the main safety concerns raised about ChatGPT for Teens?**

The primary concerns raised by Common Sense Media include the failure of parental notifications during conversations about suicide, self-harm, or disordered eating. Additionally, the report noted issues with the 'show me the answer' feature in Study Mode completing homework and difficulties in enforcing age restrictions.

**What does the report recommend OpenAI do?**

The report calls on OpenAI to pause marketing of ChatGPT for Teens and prohibit adolescents from using the chatbot. It suggests that access should be restricted until OpenAI can address the identified safety problems and ensure a developmentally appropriate experience for young users.

**How has OpenAI responded to the report's findings?**

OpenAI has disputed the report's claims, characterizing the research as flawed. The company suggested that much of the testing may have been conducted before parental controls were fully activated, which they believe would make the findings inaccurate. OpenAI also stated that its internal monitoring conflicts with the report's conclusions.

---

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