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Apps

Character.AI

Very high risk

An AI character and entertainment service. Character.AI says it has removed open-ended character chat for under-18s; review the account’s age and the experience actually available to your child.

Sources checked:

Three things to do first

  1. 1

    Check the account together

    Ask how your child accesses Character.AI, including the website, and check that their age information is accurate.

  2. 2

    Review the available experience

    If a minor can still access open-ended character chat, contact official support about the account’s age protections.

  3. 3

    Ask what they get from it

    Discuss creative use, companionship and anything that makes them uncomfortable. Agree on boundaries together.

What controls cannot do

An age check or a safety response is not a guarantee that every interaction is appropriate. A chatbot cannot replace trusted human support.

Start with this

Check the child’s actual account experience together and agree what AI is useful for in your family.

Risk level

Age rating

Open-ended character chat: 18+

Users

AI character and creative-tool users

Platform

iOS, Android, Web

Age recommendation

Our recommendation: no AI relationship chat for minors

Removed by platform

Under-18 open chat

Check together

Age information

Review browser too

Other access

Keep people involved

Support

What to watch for

Replacing everyday relationships

High

Pay attention if AI conversations repeatedly displace friends, family or ordinary activities.

Pressure to keep secrets

High

Encourage your child to show you responses that request secrecy or make them feel dependent.

Advice treated as authority

High

AI responses can be wrong. Important personal decisions deserve human help and reliable information.

Different access than expected

High

If the account offers features intended for adults, pause and review the age information and support options.

Set it up, step by step

  1. 1

    Start with a conversation

    Ask your child to show you what they use and why. Avoid treating disclosure as a reason for punishment.

  2. 2

    Check age protections

    The company’s September 2026 update reaffirms the under-18 open-chat removal. Do not enter an adult birthday to obtain access.

  3. 3

    Review more than the installed app

    Look together at browser access and any other accounts. A device limit on one app is not a family agreement about every service.

  4. 4

    Set privacy boundaries

    Agree not to share passwords, identifying school details or private images with a chatbot.

  5. 5

    Set time boundaries

    Use the parent-managed limits on the child’s device and agree on time away from AI, especially before bed.

  6. 6

    Keep human support available

    If the child describes distress, listen and help them reach a trusted person or appropriate professional support. Do not rely on a chatbot to manage a crisis.

Sources and availability

Checked against published guidance. Settings have not been tested in a child account; menus and availability can vary.

Availability: The platform confirms removal of under-18 open-ended character chat. Review age assurance and account access with official support if needed.