Not by default. The mainstream chatbots aren’t built for young children, and most set a minimum age: ChatGPT requires users to be at least 13, with a parent’s consent under 18. The main risks are confident wrong answers, content that slips past filters, emotional attachment to companion-style bots, and kids sharing personal information. For teenagers, with some ground rules and a parent nearby, a chatbot can be a useful homework and writing helper.
Here’s what the rules are, what can go wrong, and a checklist for setting it up.
What are the age rules for AI chatbots? #
- ChatGPT: users must be at least 13, and users under 18 need a parent’s or guardian’s permission. OpenAI announced parental controls in August 2025, and in September 2025 announced further restrictions for under-18 users, including blocking graphic sexual content and flirtatious conversation. Check OpenAI’s help pages for what the controls currently include.
- Character.AI: after lawsuits from families, the company announced that from November 25, 2025, users under 18 could no longer create or talk to its chatbots, though they can still see past chats and use some creative tools.
- Other apps: age limits vary. Check the terms and the App Store or Google Play age rating before your child installs anything.
Age ratings and terms tell you what a company allows. They don’t verify age, and many kids get around them by entering a different birth year.
What are the real risks? #
Wrong answers delivered confidently #
Chatbots invent facts, quotes and sources, and they sound just as sure when they’re wrong. Children are less likely to question them. See why AI makes things up for a kid-friendly way to explain it.
Content filters aren’t perfect #
Cloud chatbots filter what they’ll say, but filters miss things, and determined users find workarounds. Open models that run on a device have their own safety training but usually no extra filter layer on top. We compare the two in do offline AI chatbots have content filters.
Companion bots and emotional attachment #
Apps designed to be a friend or partner are built to keep users talking. That’s the category regulators and families have been most worried about, and the one most unsuitable for children.
Oversharing #
Kids may tell a chatbot their full name, school, address or problems at home. On a cloud service, that’s stored on the company’s servers. Teach them to treat a chatbot like a stranger on the internet: no personal details.
Shortcutting learning #
A chatbot will write the essay or solve the worksheet if asked. Used that way, it replaces the learning instead of supporting it.
A parent’s checklist before your child uses a chatbot #
- Check the age requirement in the app’s terms and its store age rating.
- Use the parental controls where the service offers them, and link your account if that’s how they work.
- Turn off training on their chats in the service’s data settings, where available.
- Keep it in shared spaces for younger kids: the kitchen table, not the bedroom.
- Use your phone’s parental controls (Screen Time on iPhone, Family Link on Android) to approve app installs and set time limits.
- Skip companion and “AI friend” apps entirely for children.
- Agree on house rules: no personal details, always check facts, ask a parent if something feels wrong.
- Look at the chat history together now and then, as a conversation rather than surveillance.
How to talk to kids about AI #
- “It’s a very good guesser, not a know-it-all.” It predicts likely words. It can be wrong without knowing it.
- “It isn’t a person.” However friendly it sounds, it doesn’t care about you and can’t keep secrets the way a friend can.
- “Use it to learn, not to skip learning.” Asking it to explain a math step is fine. Asking it to do the homework isn’t.
- “Tell me if it says something weird.” Make it easy for them to come to you.
Good ways for kids and teens to use AI #
With supervision and the rules above, chatbots can help with:
- Explaining a concept in simpler words, then checking with the textbook
- Quizzing them on vocabulary or a history chapter
- Brainstorming ideas for a story, then writing it themselves
- Getting feedback on a draft they wrote
- Practicing a foreign language
What about offline AI apps? #
Apps that run an AI model entirely on the phone, such as Personal LLM, are more private: nothing a child types is sent to a server or stored by a company. But private isn’t the same as child-safe. These apps rely on the safety training built into each open model, have no parental controls of their own, and aren’t designed for children. Personal LLM is rated 12+ on the App Store because an open model can discuss mature topics. For a teenager whose parents want their homework questions kept off corporate servers, it’s an option to use together. For young children, none of these general-purpose chatbots is the right tool.
Frequently asked questions #
What age can kids use ChatGPT? #
OpenAI’s terms require users to be at least 13, and users under 18 need permission from a parent or guardian.
Does ChatGPT have parental controls? #
OpenAI announced parental controls in 2025, along with restrictions for users under 18. Check OpenAI’s current help pages for exactly what parents can control, since the features have been changing.
Is Character.AI safe for kids? #
Character.AI announced that from November 25, 2025, users under 18 can no longer create or chat with its characters. Companion-style chatbots in general aren’t suitable for children.
Are offline AI apps safer for kids? #
They’re more private, since conversations stay on the device. They aren’t necessarily safer in content terms: they usually lack parental controls and extra filters. Supervision matters more than where the model runs.
How do I stop my child from using AI for homework answers? #
Agree on what’s allowed, like explanations and quizzes, and what isn’t, like finished answers. Ask them to show their own work, and use the chatbot together so you can see how they’re using it.