Character.AI has removed open-ended chat for users under 18, a change that narrows what younger users can do on the platform. For anyone following the AI boyfriend and AI girlfriend space, this is one of the clearest examples of a companion platform restricting features for minors rather than relying only on age checks.
- Character.AI no longer offers open-ended chat to users under 18.
- The change follows lawsuits and regulatory attention on teen chat safety.
- Restricting features for minors is a design-level control, not only a sign-up age check.
- Adults are not affected by the under-18 restriction.
What Changed
Open-ended chat lets a user talk with a character about almost anything, without a fixed scenario. Removing it for under-18 accounts means younger users have a more limited experience. Coverage of the change, including the wider settlement of teen-harm lawsuits involving Character.AI, is summarised by Agentry News. Source for the wider regulatory context: Mayer Brown analysis. Read our teen chat safety guide at AdultuTopia.
Why It Matters Beyond One Platform
The move signals that feature restriction is becoming a standard response to teen safety concerns. Other platforms, including Replika and Nomi AI, face the same pressure to show that minors cannot reach the features most associated with risk. Platforms with adult content, such as Candy AI, depend on age gating and opt-in controls to keep those features away from minors.
What Adults Should Take From It
For adult users, the change is a reminder that these platforms set different rules by account type and that policies can change without much notice. Check the current terms and safety pages of any app you use, and keep an eye on how it handles account age and content settings. See our AI boyfriend comparison at AdultuTopia.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Can users under 18 still use Character.AI?
- Yes, but without open-ended chat. Check the platform’s current teen experience for what remains available.
- Why did Character.AI make this change?
- It followed lawsuits and regulatory pressure about chat safety for teenagers.
- Does this affect adult accounts?
- No. The restriction applies to accounts identified as under 18.
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