Story perspectives

Character.AI Restricts Access for Under-18 Users

10/31/2025

Summary

Story summary

Character. AI will restrict access for users under 18 starting November 25, 2025, after lawsuits over teen safety, including 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III.
The platform will eliminate open-ended chats for minors and limit daily interaction to two hours.
Character. AI will implement an age-verification system and establish an independent AI safety lab.
The company will offer creative alternatives such as video and story creation while prioritizing user safety.

History

Historical Context

The Child Online Protection Act (COPA) was enacted in 1998 to restrict minors' access to harmful online content, but it faced legal challenges and was permanently blocked in 2009. This law aimed to enhance online safety, paralleling recent measures by companies like Character.AI to limit access for users under 18, reflecting ongoing concerns about protecting children in an evolving digital landscape.

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Story summary

Character. AI will restrict access for users under 18 starting November 25, 2025, after lawsuits over teen safety, including 14-year-old Sewell Setzer III.
The platform will eliminate open-ended chats for minors and limit daily interaction to two hours.
Character. AI will implement an age-verification system and establish an independent AI safety lab.
The company will offer creative alternatives such as video and story creation while prioritizing user safety.

1 / 2