The Character.ai platform is implementing new rules for users under 18 years old: starting from November 25, 2025, minors will lose the ability to use open chats with AI-based chatbots.
This is reported by Finway
New Conditions for Teens and Safety Measures
Character.ai is a popular platform that allows users to create unique chatbots with specified characters, behaviors, and communication styles. However, under the new company policy, access to open chats for minors will be completely restricted. The transition period will last from October 30 to November 25, 2025: during this time, the allowed communication time for teens will gradually decrease from two hours per day to a complete ban.
The developers of Character.ai are working on creating a separate section of the platform where “approved” chatbots with safe content for younger users will be hosted. A special mechanism for age verification is being implemented, which will include the Persona service.
Reasons for Implementing Restrictions and Public Reaction
The release also announced the creation of a non-profit organization, AI Safety Lab, which will focus on enhancing the safety of interactions with artificial intelligence. The company emphasized that the new policy is a response to concerns about the impact of AI on children and teenagers. The decision was made after consultations with regulatory bodies, lawyers, and parents.
“The Character.ai team made this decision after careful consultation with regulatory bodies, lawyers, and parents of minor users.”
Discussions about the safety of AI platforms have intensified following the tragic case of 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III, who committed suicide in February 2024 after prolonged interactions with a chatbot modeled after the character Daenerys Targaryen from the “A Song of Ice and Fire” series. The teenager discussed personal and romantic topics with the bot and shared thoughts about suicide.
In October 2024, the boy’s mother, Megan Garcia, filed a lawsuit against Character.ai, which the company attempted to contest, but the court decided to proceed with the case. In September 2025, the platform faced another lawsuit related to user safety.
The issue of the impact of chatbots on the mental health of young people has gained widespread attention: reports indicate that over a million users weekly share thoughts about suicide with ChatGPT, the chatbot from OpenAI. Consequently, companies are implementing additional measures to protect teens and make their products more sensitive to such topics.