AI & Teen Well-Being: What Do We Know Now? | 2026 Common Sense Summit

Why It Matters

As chatbots become default confidants for many teens, unresolved safety gaps could amplify mental-health risks and legal exposure for platforms, making design, monitoring and policy fixes urgent for parents, schools and regulators.

Summary

At the 2026 Common Sense Summit, reporters and experts from Common Sense Media, Stanford and OpenAI warned that AI chatbots are deeply embedded in teens’ lives—about 70% report use—for homework, advice, companionship and emotional support. Panelists highlighted a spectrum of harms beyond high-profile suicide cases, including obsessive reassurance, worsening OCD, anxiety and impaired social functioning, driven by mismatches between chatbot design and adolescent development. Researchers described case examples where teens became dependent on chatbots to draft any communication, and called for product design changes, better detection of harmful patterns, and more targeted research. OpenAI’s representative said the company is updating safety policies informed by developmental science but acknowledged ongoing challenges and the need for systemic safeguards.

Original Description

More than 70% of teens have used AI companion chatbots, and nearly two-thirds use them regularly. One in three teens has turned to an AI companion to discuss something serious rather than talking to a real person. Meanwhile, most of their parents have no idea. Through independent AI risk assessments developed with clinical researchers at Stanford's Brainstorm Lab, Common Sense Media has evaluated multi-use chatbots, AI companions, mental health chatbots, teacher assistants, recommendation algorithms, and AI-enabled toys, giving families, educators, and policymakers a clear and credible analysis. This session brings together the team behind that work, the clinical science driving it, and a child safety policy perspective from inside OpenAI. The conversation will seek to answer what it would actually take to build AI that makes kids' lives better.

Speakers:

Allison Mishkin, Youth Policy Lead, OpenAI

Robbie Torney, Head of Digital and AI Assessments, Common Sense Media

Dr. Nina Vasan, Founder, Brainstorm: The Stanford Lab for Mental Health Innovation

Rebecca Ruiz, Senior Reporter, Mashable