OpenAI: Teens Use ChatGPT Less Than 15 Minutes Daily on Average

OpenAI released its first teen usage report on Wednesday, stating that teens use ChatGPT for less than 15 minutes per day on average, with fewer than 2% using it continuously for over 3 hours. The company said that in teen conversations where break reminders appeared, nearly half of users chose to take a break or ended the conversation within 5 minutes. OpenAI began rolling out ChatGPT for Teens in August. This mode automatically activates based on age information or when the user is estimated to be under 18, providing parental controls and restricting conversations on sensitive topics. The company said users on the teen version sent more education-related messages and used tools such as learning visualizations and Study Mode, and is considering adding features like college application planning, flashcards, and quizzes. Nonprofit organization Common Sense Media reported the same day that ChatGPT for Teens often delayed notifying parents—or failed to notify them at all—when teen accounts discussed suicide, self-harm, or eating disorders. The research, based on over a dozen accounts created for testing, found the chatbot did not reliably recommend crisis hotlines or professional help. An OpenAI spokesperson said the test does not accurately reflect how safeguards actually operate, and that due to safety and scale reasons, linking parent accounts to teen accounts and activating safety alerts may take several hours.