Children under 13 are not allowed to use Character.AI anywhere; in Europe and the UK, the minimum age is 16.
This analysis describes what Character.AI's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
The 16-year minimum for EU/EEA and UK users reflects stricter regulatory requirements under GDPR and UK GDPR for platforms processing children's data, and non-compliance with these restrictions creates significant regulatory risk.
Parents of children under 13 should be aware that their children are prohibited from using the platform, and parents of teenagers under 16 in Europe or the UK should know that those users are also explicitly excluded from authorized access.
How other platforms handle this
Our Products are not directed to children. You must be at least 13 years old to use our Products. If you are under 18, you must have your parent or legal guardian's permission to use our Products and they must read and agree to these Terms on your behalf.
To be eligible to use the Venmo services, you must be a resident of the United States and at least 18 years of age. By accepting these terms, you represent and warrant that you meet the eligibility requirements. If you do not meet these requirements, you may not use the Venmo services.
You may not use the Shopify Services to offer, sell, or facilitate the sale of: Firearms and certain weapons: Firearms that are designed to kill or injure others (excluding legitimate retailers who comply with all applicable laws), illegal knives, illegal weapons modifications including silencers, b...
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"If you are under 13 years old OR if you are under 16 years old and a citizen or resident in the European Economic Area (EEA) or the United Kingdom (UK), do not sign up for the Services – you are not authorized to use them.— Excerpt from Character.AI's Character.ai Terms of Service
REGULATORY LANDSCAPE: The minimum age of 13 globally is set to align with the U.S. Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), enforced by the FTC, which requires verifiable parental consent for collecting personal information from children under 13. The 16-year threshold for EEA/UK users aligns with GDPR Article 8 default requirements (though member states may set this threshold between 13 and 16), the UK Children's Code (Age Appropriate Design Code), and UK GDPR provisions on processing children's personal data. The EU's Digital Services Act also imposes obligations on platforms regarding minor protection. GOVERNANCE EXPOSURE: High. The prohibition on use by under-13s and under-16s in EEA/UK creates platform-level age verification and enforcement obligations. The document states that these users are not authorized, but does not describe specific technical or procedural age verification mechanisms, which regulators under COPPA, GDPR, and the UK Children's Code may consider insufficient. The nature of the platform (AI chatbot with potentially sensitive or adult-oriented content) heightens regulatory scrutiny of age enforcement practices. JURISDICTION FLAGS: The FTC actively enforces COPPA against platforms that collect data from under-13 users without verifiable parental consent, and insufficient age gate mechanisms have been the basis for enforcement actions. The UK ICO enforces the Age Appropriate Design Code and has taken enforcement action against platforms with inadequate children's privacy protections. EU data protection authorities enforce GDPR Article 8 and national implementing legislation on children's consent ages. California's AADC (Age Appropriate Design Code Act) may also apply, though its current enforcement status should be verified. CONTRACT AND VENDOR IMPLICATIONS: Educational institutions and parents should be aware that the platform's terms explicitly exclude minor users in covered age ranges, and institutional deployment of Character.AI in K-12 settings would likely conflict with these terms and create additional FERPA compliance considerations. The DOE's Student Privacy Policy Office may be relevant for educational deployment contexts. COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS: Legal teams should review the platform's technical age verification mechanisms against COPPA safe harbor standards, GDPR Article 8 requirements, and the UK Children's Code. The absence of described verification procedures in the terms document itself is a gap that should be assessed. Any organization deploying Character.AI in contexts involving minor users should conduct due diligence on the platform's actual enforcement of these restrictions.
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The 16-year minimum for EU/EEA and UK users reflects stricter regulatory requirements under GDPR and UK GDPR for platforms processing children's data, and non-compliance with these restrictions creates significant regulatory risk.
Parents of children under 13 should be aware that their children are prohibited from using the platform, and parents of teenagers under 16 in Europe or the UK should know that those users are also explicitly excluded from authorized access.
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