Schools today put devices in the hands of students in the name of education. Parents are supposed to feel comfort believing that, because this device was given to their child by the school, it won’t bring them any harm.
Tragically, this is not the result we have seen.
Take Samantha (pseudonym), for example. She received a school-issued Chromebook at 10 years old. However, rather than a safe digital learning environment, as she was promised, Samantha was able to access Discord, (not an appropriate platform for a 10-year-old), where a predator sent her sexually explicit and abusive messages and even detailed ways to assault and kidnap her.
When her parents discovered this travesty, they were desperate to protect her, but found themselves blocked by administrative restrictions, unable to manage the settings on her school-issued device.
Samantha is not the only kid who has been harmed by a school-issued device. One parent said her daughter was messaging older men on her school-issued iPad. Another told us that her kid was exposed to pornography via a shared Google Doc. Furthermore, many of these school devices also collect children’s data which, without parental consent, is illegal.
What do you do when all of your efforts to protect your child go out the window as soon as the school hands them a device?
Access to Inappropriate Content on School Devices
A Common Sense Media report found that, of the 73% of youth who had seen pornography, 41% saw it during the school day. Moreover, out of those who had seen it during the school day, 44% had viewed it on their school-issued device. As recently as 2025, NCOSE heard from parents whose kids had been exposed to sexually explicit content, violent video games, and loopholes that could allow them to communicate with strangers, which puts them at risk for grooming.
The Google Chromebook is the industry leader in school-issued devices. A 2025 data summary asserts that 93% of U.S. school districts “intend to purchase Chromebooks” specifically. This begs the question: Why are there not more robust safety protections on Chromebooks if they’re specifically issued to schools for use by minors?
Illegal Data Harvesting on School Devices and Platforms
Under the Child’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), tech companies are not allowed to collect the data of minors without parental consent. However, a lawsuit filed by Samantha’s family alleges that Google was collecting her data. In their complaint, they allege the company builds “intimate, dynamic behavioral and psychographic profiles” of students without parental consent.
And it’s not just Google. Parents in California filed a lawsuit against Curriculum Associates (which owns iReady, another platform used by educators) for unlawful data collection of students on the platforms. They allege the company collects student data and shares it with third parties without parental consent.
Not only do parents have to worry about exposure to dangerous content in school, but they also now have to worry about their child’s privacy. Isn’t school supposed to be a safe place for kids?
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Google’s Embedded AI Search Engine
Another obstacle when it comes to Chromebooks is Google’s AI search engine. A recent report from Common Sense Media stated that Google’s AI search engine poses an “unacceptable risk” to kids.
After a Google Search, the “AI Overview” appears at the top of the page. Users can scroll past it, but there’s no way to turn it off. No parent, student, or school administrator can disable the AI search engine. Google’s “AI Mode” operates like a standard AI chatbot that might otherwise be age restricted on a school device.
Common Sense Media’s research notes the dangers of this AI search engine:
“Our tests found that both AI Overview and AI Mode failed kids in crisis, including missing clear signs of suicidal ideation, reinforcing signs of psychosis and mania, validating disordered eating including purging, and celebrating cannabis use. They also provide information that could facilitate bullying by handing over step-by-step instructions for making deepfakes.”
Further, Common Sense Media found that the AI readily completed homework assignments for students, which is hardly beneficial for their learning. It also frequently contained false or misleading information.
How the NCOSE Parent Center Can Help
NCOSE’s Parent Center is a great resource when it comes to managing technology in your family, including school-issued devices. Unsure of how to approach your school administration about device restrictions? Need conversation starters to talk with your child about encountering harmful material on a school device? Ask the Parent Center AI tool today!
The Parent Center also provides the weekly 7-Minute Podcast, designed to keep parents up-to-date on the latest with online safety and offer actionable steps to protect your kids online. For just $7 a month, you can get early access to this podcast, while also supporting the NCOSE Parent Center—so that WE can better support YOU!
