Is ChatGPT safe for teens? Common Sense flags gaps as OpenAI touts learning benefits

OpenAI says its ChatGPT experience for teens helps them learn, prepare for college and build study skills. But new findings from Common Sense Media raise a bigger question: is ChatGPT safe enough for teenagers?The Youth AI Safety Institute at Common Sense Media tested ChatGPT for Teens using more than 4,000 prompts from accounts set up by users aged 13 to 17. In its report, released in October 2026, the watchdog said some key safeguards “failed” and rated the experience an “unacceptable risk”. OpenAI, meanwhile, has pointed to encouraging early adoption figures and new education-focused features.Common Sense flags five major safety gapsThe Youth AI Safety Institute reports that safety warnings were not necessarily activated when testers talked about self-harming, suicide, or anorexia.