ChatGPT for Teens is an ‘unacceptable risk,’ says Common Sense Media

Common Sense Media has labeled OpenAI’s ChatGPT for Teens an “unacceptable risk,” citing inadequate parental alerts and crisis support. The nonprofit’s assessment found that the feature, introduced in August, fails to notify parents about sensitive topics like self-harm and still assists with homework, despite OpenAI's promised guardrails. OpenAI disputes these findings, suggesting Common Sense Media's testing methodology may be flawed and conducted before parental controls were fully activated, while reaffirming its commitment to teen safety and ongoing collaboration with experts.

This report is the first to detail Common Sense Media's specific findings on ChatGPT for Teens, including its failure to alert parents about self-harm discussions and continued assistance with homework.