Chatbot platform Character.ai is cutting off teenagers from having open ended conversations with its virtual characters, a move that follows intense criticism over the interactions young people were having with these AI companions.
Restricting Teen Access
The platform founded in 2021, is used by millions to talk to bots powered by artificial intelligence. However, it is currently facing several lawsuits in the US from parents, including one concerning the death of a teenager, with critics labeling the service a "clear and present danger" to young people.
Starting November 25, users under the age of 18 will only be able to generate content, such as videos, with their characters, rather than engaging in the full conversational chat they can currently access.
Character.ai CEO Karandeep Anand said the company made the change following "reports and feedback from regulators, safety experts, and parents." Experts have previously warned that the potential for AI chatbots to exaggerate, be overly encouraging, or feign empathy poses significant risks to young and vulnerable individuals. Anand emphasized that the company believes it needs to "keep building the safest AI platform on the planet for entertainment purposes," calling AI safety a "moving target" that the company is taking an "aggressive" approach to.
Industry Reaction and Future Plans
Online safety campaigners, while welcoming the move, argue the feature should never have been available to children in the first place. The Internet Matters safety group noted that their research shows children are exposed to harmful content when engaging with AI chatbots.
Character.ai has faced heavy criticism for hosting potentially harmful or offensive chatbots. Avatars impersonating murder victim Brianna Ghey and teenager Molly Russell, who took her own life after viewing suicide material, were found on the site in 2024 before being removed. Later in 2025, a chatbot based on the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was discovered, having logged over 3,000 chats.
Anand noted that the company’s new focus for teens will be on providing "even deeper gameplay and role play storytelling" features, which he believes will be "far safer than what they might be able to do with an open ended bot." The company will also introduce new age verification methods and fund a new AI safety research lab.
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