What California’s New AI Chatbot Law Means for Your Family (SB 243 Explained)

California passed a law in 2025 that sets rules for AI companion chatbots. It is called SB 243. If you are a parent, you may be wondering what it changes for your child and what you still need to do yourself. This guide answers that in plain terms. It is not legal advice, and “AI addiction” is not a formal medical diagnosis.

Need to talk to someone today? The 988 Lifeline takes calls and texts in the US. Crisis Text Line answers when you send HOME to 741741. You can also reach SAMHSA on 1-800-662-4357. If anyone is in danger right now, phone 911.

The short version

Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 243 on October 13, 2025. It took effect on January 1, 2026. It applies to companies that run companion chatbots, which are AI systems meant to hold ongoing, human-like conversations. The Governor’s office presented it as one of several bills signed that day to protect children online (Governor’s office).

For a line-by-line summary, see our explainer on the law. Here is what matters at home.

What changes for your child

Based on the bill record and legal analyses (CalMatters, Future of Privacy Forum), companies covered by the law must:

• Make clear the user is talking to AI, if a person could think otherwise.
• Keep and publish a plan for handling talk of suicide and self-harm, including pointing people to crisis help.
• When they know a user is a minor, say it is AI, remind the user to take a break every three hours in long sessions, and take reasonable steps to keep the bot away from sexually explicit content.
• Report each year, starting July 1, 2027, to the state’s Office of Suicide Prevention, without personal user details.
• Face lawsuits from people injured by a violation.

Some articles, including an earlier version of this page, said the law also requires age verification, penalties for deepfakes, and a ban on bots posing as therapists. Those come from other California bills signed the same day, not from SB 243.

What the law does not do

• It does not ban companion chatbots for teens.
• It does not require age verification. The protections for minors apply when a company knows the user is a minor.
• It does not deal with heavy use or emotional dependence. It is aimed at suicide, self-harm and sexual content.
• It does not cover every AI product. Customer service bots and some game characters are outside its definition.
• It does not tell you how your child is doing. Only you and your child can work that out.

Why families are paying attention

Lawsuits and news reports have described teenagers who were harmed after long chats with AI. Those are allegations, not court findings, and the companies dispute or have settled some of them. Read more on our pages about the Character.AI lawsuits and the ChatGPT lawsuits.

Chatbots are common among teens. A Pew Research Center survey of 1,458 U.S. teens in fall 2025 found that 64 percent of 13- to 17-year-olds use AI chatbots, and about 3 in 10 use them every day. Most of that use may be homework and curiosity. The survey page does not tell us how many use chatbots for emotional support.

What to do at home

Start with a low-key conversation

Ask what your teen uses and what they like about it. You could say, “I read that California made rules for AI chatbots. Do you or your friends use any? What are they like?” Listen first. A teen who feels judged will stop telling you things.

Ask about specific apps

Chatbot use is not only ChatGPT. It also includes companion apps such as Character.AI and Replika, and AI features inside apps they already use. Ask what is on their phone and what each one is for.

Know what the experts recommend

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry says that AI companions are designed mainly for adults and are not safe for children. It points out that they often agree with users, even when ideas are unhealthy, and that guardrails are not foolproof. It suggests talking openly about risks and benefits, using the tools together, explaining that a chatbot is a tool and not a friend or therapist, and setting clear limits. Teens with anxiety or depression may need closer watching.

Watch for changes in behavior

Hours online matter less than what changes around them. Things worth noticing:

• Pulling away from friends and family, or preferring the chatbot to people
• Sleep lost to late-night chats
• Distress when they can’t get to the app
• Talking about a chatbot as if it were a real friend or partner
• Falling grades, low mood or anxiety that is getting worse

None of these proves a problem on its own. Stress, school pressure or other issues can look the same.

Don’t count on settings alone

Break reminders can be dismissed, and age checks can be got around. Company tools can help, but they are not a plan. Check parental settings in each app and revisit them.

When to get help

If you cannot get your child’s use under control, or mood and behavior are changing, talk with your child’s doctor. They can refer you to a child and adolescent psychiatrist or another qualified professional. If you think your child is in danger, call 911 or 988.

Does SB 243 protect my child if we live outside California?

The law applies to companies serving California users. Whether it changes what your family sees depends on how companies apply it. We cannot say they will apply it nationwide, so treat it as one safeguard, not a guarantee.

Will SB 243 stop my teen from chatting with an AI companion?

No. It sets safety and disclosure rules. It does not ban teens from companion chatbots.

What should I say to my teen about the law?

Keep it short and curious. For example: “California passed rules about AI chatbots. What do you and your friends use them for?” Then listen.

This page is for education only. It is not legal advice, medical advice or a diagnosis.