A 13-year-old student in Florida asked ChatGPT how to “kill my friend in the middle of class,” and after that, the student was arrested, raising concerns around AI use amongst minors.
The incident occurred on September 27, 2025, at Southwestern Middle School in Volusia County. The query was flagged by Gaggle, a school software system that monitors student activity online and alerts staff to potentially risky behavior. School officials immediately notified the resource officer, who activated emergency protocols and involved law enforcement.
The student, Ian Franco, reportedly explained that his query was intended as a joke aimed at a classmate who had been bothering him. Authorities, however, treated the message seriously, stressing that any statements suggesting harm, even in jest, can lead to significant consequences in a school setting.
“This is a reminder that language matters,” said a school spokesperson. “Even if a threat is not intended, it triggers alarms for student safety.”
The case has sparked a conversation about AI use in schools, parental supervision, and the need for clear digital safety education. Experts advise parents to monitor online activity and discuss the seriousness of online threats, even if made jokingly.
OpenAI recently introduced parental controls in ChatGPT to give families greater oversight of teen usage. The feature, rolling out on the web and soon on mobile, allows parents to link accounts with their children, limit exposure to sensitive content, manage data usage, and control whether ChatGPT remembers past conversations for personalized responses.
However, schools and parents alike are being urged to educate students about responsible technology use and the real-world consequences of online statements.
