Character.ai to Ban Teens From Open-Ended Chat After Lawsuits, SafetyScrutiny

The popular AI chatbot platform Character.AI announced on Wednesday that it is banning all users under the age of 18 from engaging in open-ended conversations with its virtual "characters," following intense legal and regulatory pressure over the app's impact on youth mental health.

The change, which will take full effect by November 25, 2025, marks a major policy shift for the company. Effective immediately, the company will also begin imposing a two-hour daily limit on open-ended chats for minors during the transition period.


Why the Ban Is Happening
This drastic move comes after Character.AI faced multiple high-profile lawsuits and growing concern from child safety advocates and regulators.

The company is currently being sued by several families, including the mother of a 14-year-old boy who died by suicide last year. The lawsuit alleges the teen developed a dangerous emotional and sexual attachment to chatbots on the platform, which his family argues was untested and unsafe for minors.


In its announcement, Character.AI acknowledged the "evolving landscape around AI and teens," citing recent news reports and "questions from regulators" about the content minors might encounter and the general effect of open-ended AI chat on teen mental health.

Recent surveys have highlighted the issue, with one study from Common Sense Media finding that one in three teens have used AI companions for social interaction and relationships, including romantic role-playing and emotional support.

What the New Policy Means
The ban specifically targets the "open-ended chat" feature, which is the platform's primary function. This means users under 18 will no longer be able to have the free-ranging, human-like conversations—including those that allegedly became therapeutic or romantic—with AI personas.


The company stated it will roll out new "age assurance functionality" to enforce the ban, using both in-house models and third-party tools from the verification firm Persona.

Character.AI is not banning teens from the platform entirely. Instead, it plans to build a new, curated under-18 experience that focuses on creativity rather than conversation. The company said it is working on new features that will allow teens to use the AI characters to create videos, stories, and streams, effectively shifting from a conversational companion to a creative tool.

"We do not take this step of removing open-ended Character chat lightly," the company said in a blog post. "But we do think that it's the right thing to do given the questions that have been raised."