Is Character AI safe for kids?

Character.AI removed open ended chat for under 18s from late November 2025 and now uses age assurance. Companion style apps are still the riskiest category for children.

Should children use AI for school work?

It can help them understand topics and revise, if their school allows it. Using it to write work they hand in as their own can break school and exam board rules.

How do I keep kids safe from AI?

Use apps that match their age, turn on parental controls, keep devices in shared spaces for younger children and talk regularly about what they use.

Are AI chats with children private?

Not fully. Companies store chats and may review some for safety. See are ChatGPT chats private?

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Is AI safe for kids?

Last checked: 18 October 2026 · The AI Till, UK

Short answer

AI can be safe for children when it is age appropriate, set up with parental controls and used with an adult keeping an eye on things. Most mainstream chatbots, including ChatGPT, require users to be at least 13, with parental consent for under 18s. Companion and role play chatbots carry the most risk.

Age rules for popular AI apps

App	Minimum age and rules (checked 18 October 2026)
ChatGPT	13 or older, with parental consent for 13 to 17. Parents can link accounts using parental controls
Gemini	Google offers Gemini to teens with extra protections, and to younger children through Family Link where available
Character.AI	Removed open ended chat for under 18s from late November 2025. Under 18s get a limited experience; all users go through age assurance
Meta AI in WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger	Follows each app's own age rules, usually 13 or older
Snapchat My AI	Built into Snapchat, which requires users to be 13 or older

Age limits are only as good as the checks behind them. Many children sign up with a false date of birth, so set accounts up together.

The main risks

Wrong answers said confidently: AI makes mistakes, including on health, history and maths homework.
Unsuitable content: filters reduce but do not remove it, particularly in image generators and lesser known apps.
Emotional attachment: companion chatbots are designed to be engaging, and some children treat them as friends or confide in them instead of people.
Privacy: children may share their name, school, photos or worries. That data can be stored and, on some services, used to train models.
Schoolwork: using AI to write coursework can count as malpractice under exam board rules.
Scams and deepfakes: AI makes fake images and messages more convincing. See how to spot AI scams

Setting up ChatGPT parental controls

Your teen needs their own ChatGPT account. You need yours.
In your account, go to Settings, then Parental controls, then add a family member using your teen's email or phone number.
Your teen accepts the invitation.
Choose settings such as quiet hours, turning off memory or voice, and limiting image generation.
You can receive limited safety alerts if there are signs of serious risk, but you cannot read their chats. OpenAI designed it that way to keep some privacy for teens.

Practical rules that work at home

Keep AI use in shared spaces for younger children, as you might with YouTube.
Agree what AI is for: explaining a topic, practising French, generating ideas. Not writing homework for them.
Teach the habit of checking: "where did it get that from?"
Remind them never to share their full name, address, school or photos of themselves or friends.
Make sure they know they can tell you if a chatbot says something upsetting, without losing the device.

What UK law and schools say

Ofcom enforces the Online Safety Act, and its children's safety codes have applied since July 2025. Ofcom says AI chatbots are covered where they let users share content with each other, search the web, or publish pornographic content; some standalone chatbots may fall outside the Act. The Department for Education's guidance tells schools to assess risks, use approved tools with safeguards, and respect age limits. Ask your child's school what its AI policy is.

Warning signs to watch for

Long, late night chats with a companion app, or secrecy about it.
Your child saying an AI "understands them better" than friends or family.
Sudden perfect homework they cannot explain.
Being upset or frightened by something a chatbot said or showed.

If a child is in distress, talk to them and, if needed, contact the school, your GP or Childline on 0800 1111.

Sources

Checked 18 October 2026. Rules and prices change, so check the source before you rely on it. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

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