OpenAI says teens use ChatGPT for under 15 minutes a day as worries over risks grow - Reuters

OpenAI released its first report on teenage usage of ChatGPT on October 7, providing data on how young people interact with the AI chatbot. The company said that, on average, teens spend less than 15 minutes per day on the service. Only a small fraction—fewer than two percent—engage with the chatbot for more than three consecutive hours.

The report also highlighted the impact of OpenAI’s dedicated “ChatGPT for Teens” mode, which was rolled out in August. The mode activates automatically for eligible users and includes safety features such as break reminders. In nearly half of the conversations where a break reminder appeared, the teenager either paused the session or ended the chat within five minutes, suggesting that the prompts are influencing usage patterns.

OpenAI noted that users of the teen version tend to focus more on educational content. They send a higher proportion of education‑related messages and make greater use of tools such as learning visualisations and the newly introduced Study Mode. These features are designed to support study activities and help students organise information.

Looking ahead, OpenAI said it plans to expand the teen offering with additional study‑aid functionalities. Upcoming features include a college‑application planning tool to assist with requirements, deadlines and financial‑aid steps, as well as new study resources such as flashcards and simplified quiz‑making tools.

The release of the usage data comes amid growing scrutiny of AI chatbots and their potential effects on young users. Industry observers have raised concerns about the mental‑health and developmental implications of rapid AI adoption, drawing parallels to earlier debates over social‑media platforms. In August, Meta agreed to a settlement that could involve up to $18 billion in payments and restrictions on teen usage of Facebook and Instagram, citing allegations that the platforms were designed to be addictive for children.

OpenAI’s findings and the introduction of safety mechanisms are part of a broader effort by technology companies to address regulatory and public‑policy pressures regarding the protection of minors in digital environments. The company’s ongoing monitoring and feature development aim to balance the educational benefits of AI with safeguards against excessive or harmful use.