Character.AI Introduces New Safety Measures for Minors
Character.AI has added content filters and session time reminders for users identified as under 18.
Published: 2026-02-28
What Changed
Following concerns about young users forming emotional attachments to AI chatbot characters, Character.AI has introduced several changes for accounts registered to under-18s. Conversations are now filtered more aggressively for romantic, sexual, and self-harm-related content. A pop-up reminder appears after 60 minutes of continuous use encouraging the user to take a break. Additionally, a new parent dashboard allows parents to view their child's usage statistics and active characters, though not conversation content.
What to Review
- •Check whether your child uses Character.AI — it is popular with teenagers but many parents have not heard of it.
- •Verify that your child's account reflects the correct age so that the protections apply.
- •Consider setting up the parent dashboard to monitor usage patterns.
Parent Actions
- 1Talk to your child about Character.AI and what they use it for. Some children use it for creative writing, while others develop emotional attachments to AI characters.
- 2Set up the parent dashboard at character.ai/parent if your child is under 18.
- 3Discuss the difference between AI characters and real relationships — AI characters are designed to be engaging, not to genuinely care about the user.
Full app guide
View the complete Character.AI safety guide
This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.
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Last reviewed: 2026-03-29