Level : Beginner
Kids and AI: minimum age, parental controls and practical advice
By The Info Agent IA editorial team ·
The major AI assistants set a minimum age in their terms of use: at least 13 for ChatGPT, Gemini and Copilot, with parental permission under 18 at OpenAI, and 18 for Claude. Beyond those rules, what really protects children is how parents guide them: sensible settings, shared use and a few clear house rules.
Why this matters now
A chatbot is a program you talk to in writing or out loud, much as you would with a person. Kids come across them everywhere: in an assistant app like ChatGPT, inside messaging apps they already use, on a family tablet or while doing homework. Meta AI, for instance, is built into WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger, according to our profile page.
These tools can explain a concept, help practice a language or feed a child’s curiosity. But they were not designed with children in mind first. They can get things wrong, remember what they are told and feel like a friend who is always available. That is why it pays to know the official rules before setting your own.
Minimum ages, according to the official terms
We read the terms of use of the main services on October 22, 2026. Here is what they say, without interpretation.
| Service | Minimum age | Rule for minors | Source checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT (OpenAI) | 13, or the minimum age in your country | Parent or legal guardian permission under 18 | Terms of Use for Europe and the UK, updated January 16, 2026 |
| Gemini (Google) | 13, or the applicable age in your country (personal or school account) | 18 for a work account; access for under-13s can be turned off with Family Link | Gemini Help Center |
| Claude (Anthropic) | 18 | Not open to minors | Consumer Terms effective October 8, 2025 |
| Microsoft Copilot | At least 13, sometimes older depending on the country | Some features may be limited or turned off under 18 | Copilot Terms of Use effective August 18, 2026 |
| Character.AI | 13; 16 in the EU and the UK | No open-ended chat under 18 | Our profile page, based on the help center |
| Siri AI (Apple) | Not allowed under 13 | Not specified | Our profile page |
You can read the documents yourself: OpenAI’s terms, Google’s help page on signing in to Gemini, Anthropic’s consumer terms and Microsoft Copilot’s terms, all checked on October 22, 2026. For the specific rules on fiction characters, see our Character.AI profile.
What the minimum age does not tell you
The age in the terms is a contractual and legal rule, not an educational recommendation. It does not tell you whether a tool suits your child’s maturity, or how much time they should spend on it.
In most cases, age is simply self-declared at sign-up. Microsoft, for instance, says it may ask for your birthday and country, and that the information must be accurate. A child can lie about their age or use a parent’s account. In that case they also see your history, your shared files and the assistant’s memory, meaning what the tool has retained from your previous chats.
Data matters too. Whatever a child types goes to the provider’s servers. According to our profile page, Meta excludes accounts of under-18s from model training in the European Union, but each service has its own rules. Our guide AI and privacy: what happens to your conversations explains how this works.
The parental controls you can use
Control works on two levels: the device and the assistant.
On the device. Google Family Link, Apple Screen Time and Microsoft Family Safety let you allow or block apps, cap screen time and approve downloads. This is your first safety net, and it works across all services.
Inside the assistant. According to Google’s Help Center, a parent who manages a Family Link account can turn off access to Gemini for children under 13. Microsoft says it may limit or turn off some Copilot features for users under 18. Character.AI offers teens a restricted experience, with guided formats instead of open conversation. For other assistants, look for “parental controls”, “teen account” or “family” in the settings and help center, as these options change quickly.
In the privacy settings. Turn off the use of conversations for model training, limit memory and prefer temporary chats. Our tutorial on ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini privacy settings shows where to find them.
Our advice by age
Under 13: explore together. No account in the child’s name on the major assistants. AI is something they discover next to you, on your device: you ask questions together, read the answers together and talk about what looks right or doubtful. Use a temporary chat so their questions do not mix with your own history.
13 to 17: supervised independence. If the service allows it, set up the account with your teen and read the terms together, as OpenAI asks. Agree on clear rules: which uses, at what times, and what information is never shared. For school, the principle is simple: AI explains, it does not do the work. Our guide on helping kids with homework using AI covers good habits.
Check yourself Your 10-year-old wants to use ChatGPT to prepare a school presentation. What do you do?
They are too young for their own account: OpenAI’s terms set the minimum at 13. You can, however, sit with them on your device in a temporary chat. Ask for an explanation suited to their age, check the facts together in a book or on a reliable website, then let them write the presentation themselves.
Five rules to explain to your kids
- An AI is not a person. It imitates conversation but feels nothing, and it does not replace a friend, a parent or a teacher.
- It can be wrong. An assistant can make up a date, a name or an explanation with total confidence: this is called a hallucination. Show your child how to fact-check an AI answer.
- No personal information. Full name, address, school, photos, passwords: none of these belong in a chat.
- Pictures and voices can be faked. A deepfake is an image, video or voice generated by AI. Agree on a family code word for urgent calls, as we recommend in our guide to AI voice cloning scams.
- If something feels wrong, talk about it. A shocking answer, a strange request or a conversation that goes off track should be reported to an adult, with no fear of punishment.
Companion chatbots: extra care needed
Some services are not work assistants but characters you chat with for fun. They play a role, remember past exchanges and are designed to keep the conversation going. Character.AI has removed open-ended chat for under-18s, according to our profile page.
Watch for a few signs: a child who spends a lot of time with a character, withdraws, hides their chats or seems upset when cut off. Talk with them without judgment and, if you remain worried, ask your pediatrician, family doctor or a school counselor for advice. For online harassment or harmful content, your country’s official child online safety services can also help.
Choosing a family-friendly tool
If you are looking for an assistant for supervised family use, compare the minimum age, the privacy settings and whether there is a no-history mode. Our “Which AI is right for you?” quiz points you in the right direction in a few questions, and the level test helps a teenager gauge what they already know.
Frequently asked questions
How old do you have to be to use ChatGPT?
According to OpenAI's Terms of Use for Europe and the UK, updated on January 16, 2026, you must be at least 13, or the minimum age required in your country. Users under 18 need permission from a parent or legal guardian. A child under 13 should therefore not have their own account.
Can a child under 13 use AI with a parent?
They can explore AI alongside you, on your device and under your supervision, without an account in their name. Use a temporary chat or a mode that does not keep history, and do not leave the child alone with the assistant. Check that the service's terms allow this kind of supervised use.
How do I set up parental controls for AI?
Start with device-level tools such as Google Family Link or Apple Screen Time, which limit apps and screen time. Then look at each assistant's own settings: Google, for example, lets Family Link parents turn off Gemini for children under 13. No setting replaces a regular conversation with your child.
Are AI companion chatbots suitable for teenagers?
They call for extra care, because they play a role and are designed to keep the conversation going. Character.AI, for example, has removed open-ended chat for users under 18. If your teen seems withdrawn or strongly attached to a character, talk with them and, if needed, with a professional.