Updated September 2026

What is ChatGPT, and is it safe for kids?

Here are 5 FACTS every parent needs to know about ChatGPT:

Also check out our podcast: Ep. 86: ChatGPT and How This Changes Everything, Ep. 191: Children & Chatbots – A Biblical Perspective, and Ep. 225: A Biblical Framework for AI & Children

 

#1 What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is an advanced natural language processing model developed by OpenAI.  It is based on the Generative Pre-trained Transformer model, the GPT in ChatGPT.

Basically, it is an AI machine learning algorithm that has spent years analyzing internet language to understand and generate a natural way to communicate information back to users. Users can provide prompts or ask questions, and the model will generate responses accordingly. 

ChatGPT began primarily as a text chatbot, but has advanced to be able to:

• Search the live web
• Analyze photos, screenshots, PDFs, and other files
• Create and edit images
• Hold natural spoken conversations through Voice
• Remember information across conversations
• Analyze data and run code
• Provide long-form research
• Use browser/agent-like tools to perform more complicated tasks (depending on account features)

 

#2 ChatGPT for Teens & Parental Controls

ChatGPT for Teens

ChatGPT for Teens launched on August 18, 2026, for users ages 13-17. This isn’t a separate app, but an age-appropriate version of the standard ChatGPT. The age-based safety measures are automatically applied when OpenAI knows or predicts that a user is under 18.

The company claims these features will help teens learn, think critically, deepen understanding, and use AI with confidence. One of their stated commitments is to “treat teens like teens.” Therefore, the teen version will provide break reminders, explicit cues reminding teens they are interacting with AI, in addition to stronger restrictions around:

• self-harm
• violence
• eating disorders
• dangerous activities
• explicit sexual or graphic material
• romantic/sexualized roleplay
• emotional dependency on the chatbot

 

Sadly, this is what teen culture consists of, and these are all areas where OpenAI has faced legal trouble involving teens.

The last point on emotional dependency is especially salient. OpenAI now explicitly says ChatGPT should not use romantic language toward teens, encourage emotional dependence, or imply it has feelings or consciousness. (More under Fact #4)

Parental Controls

Parents and teens can now also link their accounts so the parent can manage features. While these settings are ostensibly a major improvement, the teen can unlink the parent at any time. Worse, there remains no parental access to their teen’s conversations with the AI chatbot. If you choose to allow ChatGPT, our Brave Parenting recommended parental controls include:

• Reduce Sensitive Content: ON
• Improve the Model for Everyone: OFF
• Memories: OFF
• Voice: OFF
• Study Mode: ON
  • Study Hours: Set for homework time
  • Quiet Hours: Set for all other hours (but at the very least overnight)
• Safety Notifications: ON
• Image Generation: OFF

 

Regarding the Teen Safety Notifications, it should be noted that this is not real-time monitoring of content by “trained reviewers”. OpenAI explicitly says they may not identify every concern.  And even with a safety notification, parents still do not receive transcripts of conversations in question.

In the end, parents must remember these are not monitoring or accountability controls – they are merely safety settings. If you allow ChatGPT, you must monitor it manually.

 

#3 Education: Tutor, Shortcut, or Cheating Tool?

Study Mode is included in ChatGPT for Teens and is designed to actively shift students away from seeking out answers and toward understanding. Their goal is for the chatbot to act as a tutor, providing guiding questions, step-by-step instructions, quizzes, learning visualizations, and “Responsible Homework Reminders.” In this way, ChatGPT can be seen as a tool of educational equality, providing tutoring to those who don’t have access to help outside of school.

But OpenAI itself says that Study Mode can still provide direct answers. Therefore, the educational benefit of the tool lies in the student’s intentional desire to learn. Otherwise, ChatGPT will easily become a shortcut for schoolwork.

New research supports parents’ and educators’ concerns that students are outsourcing, shortcutting, or flat-out cheating with AI. An August 2026 Common Sense Media report found:

• 70% of teens use AI for schoolwork
• 77% are using AI for help without getting direct answers
• 63% are using AI to get an answer

 

In today’s culture, immoral and unethical behavior is so rarely addressed that many students won’t pause long enough to consider the implications of using AI to complete their schoolwork. They rationalize that if everyone else is doing it, why wouldn’t I? Simultaneously, the competitive pressure for good grades naturally pushes teens toward shortcuts.

What they do not realize is the cognitive cost of removing the friction of learning.

 

#4 Companion, Confidant, and Counselor?

A continued concern about conversational chatbots as a whole is how young people are turning to them for companionship, counseling, and life advice.

While there are apps and platforms created for AI companionship, ChatGPT doesn’t claim to be one of them. There are even apps and platforms for AI therapeutic counseling, but again, that isn’t the designed purpose of ChatGPT. The problem, however, is that this is how young people have used ChatGPT.  Pew Research found that 12% of U.S. teens have used chatbots for emotional support or advice, while 16% use them for casual conversation.

Common Sense Media’s 2025 research on AI companions found that 72% of teens had used an AI companion at least once. Almost a third of those teens used the AI companion instead of another human for an important or serious conversation.

Most teens who engage with AI companions begin with simple curiosity. But because these apps and platforms are designed to simulate deep relationships and to seek user satisfaction, curiosity can spiral into intimacy and dependency. Considering the developmental stage of teens (learning emotional regulation skills, forming identities, assessing risks), there are major risks for AI companionship:

• Blurring the line between real and fake relationships
• Discouraging real-world relationships
• Worsening mental health challenges
• Reinforcing poor decision-making
• Sharing harmful or dangerous information (i.e., drugs, weapons)
• Exposing teens to inappropriate sexual content/sexual roleplay
• Encouraging harmful behaviors like cyberbullying/revenge/retaliation

 

A tragic case in point is the wrongful death lawsuit filed against ChatGPT by the parents of Adam Raine. According to the lawsuit: “Over the course of just a few months and thousands of chats, ChatGPT became Adam’s closest confidant, leading him to open up about his anxiety and mental distress.”

The newly released safeguards in ChatGPT for Teens directly address concerns raised by controversies like these. OpenAI now explicitly states that ChatGPT should not use romantic language toward teens, encourage emotional dependence, or imply it has feelings or consciousness.

But, as the ChatGPT disclaimer says: ChatGPT can make mistakes.

 

#5 App Ratings & Review

Apple App Store: 13+
Google Play: T for Teen
OpenAI: 13+, parental permission under 18
Common Sense Media: 17+ [High Risk for Teens]
Brave Parenting: 18+ smartphone app; 14+ (High School) on PC or Mac under a Teen Account, with supervision/adult accountability

AI tools like ChatGPT can be an excellent resource for adult professionals, who can use them to provide quick, accurate answers to inquiries or to complete tasks they already know how to do. Basically, ChatGPT is for experts who can benefit from its efficiency, without outsourcing their critical thinking or problem-solving skills to a chatbot.

Unfortunately, most teenagers do not fall into that category. The temptation to use ChatGPT to complete their homework may be more than their self-control can resist and their ethical compass can navigate.

Teens are wrestling with the ethics of AI more than parents may realize. They have concerns about their future – will there be jobs available for them, or will they be replaced by AI and robots? If all my peers are getting better grades because they use AI, how can I compete? Parents must have conversations about AI chatbots like ChatGPT. The earlier, the better.  Ask questions, express your thoughts and concerns, and then ask more questions. Help them think through the potential risks and dangers.

For younger children, guardrails to prevent use are necessary and appropriate, but the goal is to help them develop their own convictions about AI and the human experience as they grow.

As a parent, you must encourage real-world relationships, teach emotional regulation and coping skills, and model a healthy relationship with technology yourself.

Biblical Perspective

AI technology is advancing at such a rapid pace that parents can no longer decide whether their teens will use it. Parents do get to decide, however, whether or not they will intentionally disciple and guide their children’s use of it. AI chatbots are not outside the biblical worldview. Parents have the important responsibility to help children rightly fit this tool into their moral and ethical framework.

Honesty: Am I representing AI-generated work as my own?

The sinful human heart makes it so easy to justify dishonesty for a greater good.

Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.
Luke 16:10

The Lord detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.
Proverbs 11:1

If you weigh doing assigned schoolwork yourself against having ChatGPT do it, it is obvious what would delight God more.

Perseverance: Am I using AI to remove struggle and critical thinking?

In a modern culture of convenience and 24/7 entertainment, tools that make life easier can feel like a no-brainer. Why should I struggle if I don’t have to?

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4

We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Romans 5:3-4

God does not promise His children a life without struggle, and Scripture does not place ease as the greatest good. God has given us powerful minds to solve problems, to discern, and to endure.

Discernment: Am I treating a chatbot’s words as truth and wisdom?

Discernment is learned over time and with practice. It requires a foundation of truth, skills of interpretation, time, diligence, and Spirit-led reasoning.

If you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding,and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure,then you will understand the fear of the Lordand find the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 2:3-6

The simple believe anything, but the prudent give thought to their steps.
Proverbs 14:15

In Scripture, wisdom is something that is pursued, searched for, and worked toward. Wisdom does not come through an instantly delivered predictive-text response. Seeking and discerning are the work needed to find wisdom.

Dependence: Am I finding comfort, counsel, or companionship in a bot, rather than in human relationships?

Sure, chatbots are without all the human failings and shortcomings of humans. They’re always available, never in a bad mood, and always eager to please. It’s for this very reason that chatbots will never replace human companionship without grave consequences. There is purpose, endurance, character growth, and sanctification in the struggle of relationships.

As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17

We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves.Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
Romans 15:1-4

The Church is a body of believers where every person is a necessary part. We are to build each other up, encourage one another, serve one another, and bear one another’s burdens. A chatbot is a false companion, as words alone are not enough.