Common Sense Media and OpenAI clash over the safety of ChatGPT for Teens
What happened
On 7 October 2026, the non-profit Common Sense Media published an assessment saying OpenAI's ChatGPT for Teens poses an "unacceptable risk". It said the teen-facing feature failed to send parents alerts when it should have, did not offer appropriate help in crisis situations, and still does children's homework for them. OpenAI subsequently disputed Common Sense Media's testing methods, but reports did not disclose the specifics of its rebuttal. Follow-up reporting the same day said Common Sense Media's Youth AI Safety Institute issued the rating after more than 4,000 test prompts and called for teens to be barred from the feature until independent testing confirms it is safe. The two sides remain at odds over the assessment's conclusions and testing methods, and the story is still developing.
Written by AI from the reports · updated 9 d ago
Timeline
Follow the reports to see the event from each side.
- The DecoderSelectedChatGPT rated "unacceptable risk" for teens after parental alerts failed during suicide conversations
OpenAI's teen safety features for ChatGPT failed an independent audit. After more than 4,000 test prompts, the Common Sense Media Youth AI Safety Institute rated the service an "unacceptable risk" for minors. Conversations about suicide and self-harm on test accounts never triggered a parental alert. The institute wants teenagers locked out until safety can be independently verified.
- The Verge · AIChatGPT for Teens is an ‘unacceptable risk,’ says Common Sense Media
Common Sense Media, a nonprofit that offers reviews of apps, services, and entertainment with a focus on youth safety, today said that OpenAI's ChatGPT for Teens is an "unacceptable risk."
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