OpenAI released its inaugural report on teen usage of ChatGPT, revealing that the average daily session duration for teenage users is under 15 minutes. Data shows that less than 2% of these users engage with the platform for more than three consecutive hours.
The company stated that nearly half of the teenagers who received a rest reminder paused or ended their session within five minutes. OpenAI claims this demonstrates the effectiveness of its current safety measures designed to encourage responsible product usage among younger audiences.
The teen-specific version of ChatGPT, launched in August, includes parental controls and restrictions on sensitive topics. OpenAI plans to expand these features by adding college application planning tools, study cards, and improved quiz creation functions to assist students with academic tasks.
Common Sense Media challenged these safety claims, reporting that the system often fails to notify parents when teens discuss self-harm, suicide, or eating disorders. The non-profit organization conducted tests using over a dozen accounts and noted that the bot frequently failed to provide crisis intervention resources.
OpenAI responded that the tests by Common Sense Media did not accurately reflect the platform's safety mechanisms. The company explained that parental control features can take several hours to fully activate, which may have impacted the test results. Common Sense Media countered that even accounts linked for extended periods failed to trigger timely alerts.
