AI Chatbot Age Rules and Content Filters, Explained [2026]
Parents and users often ask the same questions. How old do you have to be to use this app? Can the adult content be turned off? Does it have a filter?
This page lists what each app says about minimum age and content settings, taken only from the app’s own terms and help pages. We read them on 18 October 2026 (or on the date shown). Where we could not open or read a page, we say “not confirmed” and link to the app’s own site. We do not guess.
“Not confirmed” is not a finding about the company. It means we could not read the page, or the page did not say. It is also not an assurance. Apps change their rules often, so check the source yourself.
The table
| App | Stated minimum age | Adult-content controls | Source and date read |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character.AI | Not confirmed for the current terms. A company post of 29 Oct 2025 said under-18 open-ended chat would end by 25 Nov 2025, with age assurance | Not confirmed | blog.character.ai, 2026-10-18 |
| Replika | Terms (updated 30 Mar 2026): under 18 not authorized | Not confirmed | replika.com/legal/terms, 2026-10-18 |
| PolyBuzz | Terms (updated 1 Jun 2026): 18+, minors prohibited, date of birth asked. FAQ also describes a “Teen Mode” | FAQ: public NSFW content prohibited. Wider rules not confirmed | polybuzz.ai/terms-of-use, FAQ, 2026-10-18 |
| Chai | Not confirmed (no readable terms) | Not confirmed | chai-research.com, 2026-10-18 |
| Janitor AI | Not confirmed (help center unreadable) | Not confirmed | help.janitorai.com, 2026-10-18 |
| SpicyChat | Not confirmed (terms page unreadable) | Not confirmed | spicychat.ai, 2026-10-18 |
| Zeta | Not confirmed (terms not found) | Not confirmed | zeta-ai.io, 2026-10-18 |
| Botify | Not confirmed (page returned no readable text) | Not confirmed | botify.ai, 2026-10-18 |
| ChatGPT | Not confirmed (OpenAI pages could not be opened) | Not confirmed. Search OpenAI’s help center for “parental controls” | help.openai.com, 2026-10-18 |
| Meta AI | Not confirmed (the page we read states no age) | Not confirmed | meta.com/help, 2026-10-18 |
| Snapchat My AI | Not stated on the help page | Help page says not to use it to generate sexual content | help.snapchat.com, 2026-10-18 |
What we can say, and what we cannot
Three apps gave us a readable answer.
Replika says in its terms that people under 18 are not authorized to use it.
PolyBuzz says in its terms that it is for people 18 and over and that minors are prohibited. It asks for a date of birth. Its FAQ also mentions a “Teen Mode” and says public NSFW content is prohibited. We did not find a full description of its adult-content rules. In the UK, the terms say age checks are run by third-party providers.
Character.AI announced in October 2025 that open-ended chat would end for users under 18, using age assurance that includes a model built in-house and third-party tools. That post is more than a year old. We could not confirm the current terms or filter settings. The company has since posted about a Chapter 11 filing (12 Oct 2026) and says the platform is running (Character.AI). Check the app for what applies today.
Snapchat My AI is a chatbot inside Snapchat. Snap’s help page says it can produce biased, incorrect, harmful or misleading content, and says not to use it to generate sexual content.
For the others, including the apps people search for most, we have nothing confirmed. That is a gap in what we could read, not a sign that these apps have no rules.
Why “stated age” is not the same as “enforced”
A stated minimum age tells you the company’s rule. It does not tell you how well the rule is checked. Many apps ask for a birth date and nothing more. Some use extra age checks. A birth date typed into a form is only as reliable as the person typing it.
The American Psychological Association’s advisory on adolescents and AI says age “is not a foolproof marker for maturity or psychological competence” (APA). So treat an age rule as one layer only.
Content filters: what to expect
We did not find, in the pages we could read, a clear and complete description of filters for most of these apps. In general, apps differ a lot. Some promote adult or romantic content as a feature. Some say they block it. Some have settings you can change and some do not. Do not assume that a filter exists, that it is on, or that it works the same in every chat.
The best check is practical. Open the app’s settings and look for age, content, notifications, subscription and delete-account options. Write down what you see.
A note for parents
- Ask first, calmly. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests asking with curiosity and looking at chats together (AAP).
- The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry describes AI companions as not safe tools for children, and notes that flirtatious, romantic or sexual topics can come up (AACAP).
- Use your phone’s own controls too. Apple’s Screen Time lets you set Content and Privacy Restrictions (Apple). Google Family Link has supervision tools (Google).
- Check subscriptions and in-app purchases.
- Keep talking. A filter does not replace a conversation.
Our guides for specific apps include what to do if you find Character.AI or Zeta on a child’s device.
If your child is in crisis, call or text 988, text HOME to 741741, call SAMHSA at 1-800-662-4357, or call 911 if there is immediate danger.
What is the minimum age for Character.AI?
We could not confirm the current terms. In October 2025 the company said open-ended chat would end for under-18 users. Check the app’s own terms for today’s rule.
Can I turn off adult content on these apps?
We could not confirm adult-content controls for most apps. PolyBuzz’s FAQ says public NSFW content is prohibited. Check each app’s settings and help pages.
Does a minimum age mean the app checks it?
No. It is the company’s rule. Many apps only ask for a birth date. Use your phone’s parental controls as well.
Facts read from the apps’ own pages on the dates shown; recheck before relying on them. This page is for information, not a safety rating.