AI Chatbot Firm Blocks Teens Amid Safety Lawsuits

Character AI Announces Ban for Users Under 18

The AI chatbot company Character.AI has announced a significant policy shift, confirming it will ban users aged 18 and under from its platform starting in late November. This decision follows months of intense legal and regulatory scrutiny regarding the platform's impact on younger users.

Character.AI, a service that allows people to create and interact with customized virtual companions, acknowledged the growing concerns surrounding the technology. "We’re making these changes to our under-18 platform in light of the evolving landscape around AI and teens," the company stated. They cited recent news reports and inquiries from regulators about the content teens might be exposed to and how open-ended AI conversations could affect them, even with content filters in place.

Legal Pressure and Tragic Events Force Change

The move comes after a series of high-profile lawsuits. Last year, the company was sued by the family of 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III, who tragically took his own life. His family alleged that he developed a harmful emotional attachment to a character he created on the platform, arguing the technology was "dangerous and untested." Since then, more families have come forward with similar allegations, represented by organizations like the Social Media Law Center, which filed three new lawsuits against Character.AI this month.

To enforce the new age restriction, the company plans to introduce an "age assurance functionality" by November 25. This system is designed to ensure that "users receive the right experience for their age." The company added, "We do not take this step of removing open-ended Character chat lightly – but we do think that it’s the right thing to do given the questions that have been raised."

Growing Scrutiny on AI's Impact on Youth

Character.AI is not alone in facing this kind of scrutiny. OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has also been under the microscope. The family of 16-year-old Adam Raine filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the company, claiming it prioritized user engagement over safety. In response, OpenAI implemented new safety guidelines for teen users. The company recently disclosed alarming statistics, revealing that over a million weekly users show suicidal intent in their conversations with ChatGPT, and hundreds of thousands exhibit signs of psychosis.

Lawmakers Push for Stricter AI Regulations

As the use of AI companions grows, so do calls for regulation. In October 2025, California became the first state to pass a law with specific AI safety guidelines for minors, which will take effect in 2026. The law bans sexual content for users under 18 and requires reminders that they are speaking to an AI. However, some child safety advocates believe these measures are insufficient.

At the federal level, Senators Josh Hawley and Richard Blumenthal recently introduced a bipartisan bill to ban minors from using AI companions altogether and mandate strict age verification. "Chatbots develop relationships with kids using fake empathy and are encouraging suicide," Hawley explained to NBC News. "We in Congress have a moral duty to enact bright-line rules to prevent further harm from this new technology."

Mental Health Support and Resources

If you or someone you know is in crisis, support is available. In the US, you can call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988, chat online at 988lifeline.org, or text HOME to 741741. In the UK, Papyrus can be reached at 0800 068 4141, and Samaritans can be contacted at 116 123. In Australia, Lifeline is available at 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org.