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Social · Minimum age 13+ (16+ in Europe) — no chat for under-18s

Character.AI: a guide for parents

Character.AI offers user-created characters and entertainment features. Its July 2026 help pages say all users undergo age assurance and verified under-18s cannot chat with characters. Reading Mode includes viewing previous chats and creative features. A September update confirms that under-18 open-ended chat remains unavailable.

Policy review
Check current official guidance
Official minimum age
13 (16 in Europe)
UK age assurance
Yes
Mandatory age assurance; under-18s lose open-ended chat and get Reading Mode.

Why 13+ (16+ in Europe) — no chat for under-18s?

The age limit, explained

Account eligibility and permission to chat are separate. Character.AI describes an under-18 experience without open-ended character chat and age assurance to assign the experience. This review has not tested the system’s accuracy.

Evidence

What the sources say

These sources include platform policies, research and reporting. Historical findings describe their original dates and samples. Policy descriptions and age-assurance labels are not tests of every UK account. Menus and features can vary; follow the linked current instructions.

  1. [1] Platform policy · 2025

    Character.AI announced it would remove open-ended chat for under-18 users and roll out age assurance for all accounts.

    Character.AI — Taking Bold Steps to Keep Teen Users Safe on Character.AI

  2. [2] Platform policy · 2025

    Under-18 verified users are placed in ‘Reading Mode’, where they can browse characters and content but chat features are unavailable.

    Character.AI Help Center — What is Reading Mode?

  3. [3] Platform policy · 2025

    All users must complete an age assurance check, which determines whether they get the adult or the under-18 experience.

    Character.AI Help Center — What is Age Assurance?

  4. [4] Platform policy · 2026

    The September 2026 update confirms the under-18 chat restriction and weekly Parental Insights emails for linked parents.

    Character.AI — September safety update

Real risks

  • Treating generated responses as reliable personal advice
  • Sharing sensitive personal information
  • Emotional reliance on a simulated character

Settings to check tonight

  • Expect an age check — a selfie estimate or ID may be required
  • Turn on Parental Insights so you get a weekly activity email
  • Block the app entirely with Screen Time or Family Link if you'd rather they didn't use it

Talk, don’t confiscate

How to start the conversation

  • If the account offers unexpected features, review its age and settings together and contact official support. Do not assume your child deliberately bypassed a check.
  • Ask what they were getting out of it. Company, a listening ear, help writing a story? Then find a real-world version of that.
  • Be clear the AI isn't a friend and isn't qualified to handle low moods. Agree together on a real person they'll go to instead.
  • Losing chat access felt like a real loss to many teens. Acknowledge that rather than treating it as a win.

Official guides

Step-by-step settings

Video tutorials

Watch it being done

Links open YouTube in a new tab. Where a link opens search results, check the uploader and publication date before following a tutorial.

Platform controls and guidance can change. Follow the official links for current instructions; the About page explains which checks have been completed.