Character.AI, a popular artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot platform, is ending open-ended chat for users under 18 as part of a broader update to its teen experience, the company said in a blog post this week. The change began rolling out in the United States and will expand to other markets in the coming weeks.
The company has previously limited under-18 users to one hour of open conversation per day and will fully remove that capability by late November. Character.AI said the shift was informed by input from safety experts and partners, including ConnectSafely, and by its goal of promoting user well-being.
“Open-ended chat for under-18 users will be removed in stages, and we are working closely with partners every step of the way,” Character.AI said in its update. The company has already introduced “age assurance” technology to help identify underage accounts and is notifying parents about the changes.
To support teens during the transition, Character.AI assembled a list of creative and supportive resources and will include tools from nonprofit partner Koko, which offers free emotional support services. The platform is also working with ThroughLine to guide users in moving from open chat to other features and to connect them with verified helplines.
While open chat is being removed, teens will still be able to use non-chat features, including interactive feeds, creative tools such as Imagine and Avatar FX, and streams. The company said it plans to create new experiences that enable under-18 users to “exercise creativity and build new worlds beyond chat.”
The decision comes amid heightened scrutiny of AI chatbots and youth safety. Several platforms have faced criticism and legal challenges over the potential psychological impact of long, unconstrained conversations between AI and minors. Regulators and lawmakers are increasingly focusing on how AI tools interact with younger users.
Character.AI said it hopes the phased approach will make the transition smoother for teens and their families as the company shifts toward a new under-18 experience.
