Age-appropriate Character.AI settings for UK 13-year-olds: under-18 filter, Parent Insights, no romantic personas, daily time cap and bedroom-out rule.
Character.AI's terms allow 13+, but at 13 the bot's behaviour matters more than any setting: parasocial bonding, late-night use and AI-generated sexual or self-harm content are the headline risks. Lock down filters, link Parent Insights, ban romantic companions, cap time tightly and keep the app out of the bedroom overnight.
Review every term and after any major Character.AI update.
Settings → Account → Date of Birth. Tip: Under-18 protections only apply if Character.AI knows the user is under 18.
Settings → Parental Insights → invite parent.
Settings → Content Filter and Companion / Romance toggles. All companion or romantic modes should be Off for a 13-year-old.
iOS Screen Time / Android Digital Wellbeing → app limit on Character.AI to 30 minutes per day. Tip: Long sessions are the highest-risk pattern; short sessions are usually fine.
Charge the phone outside the bedroom from 9pm. Character.AI's harm research shows late-night isolated use is the danger zone.
Sit down for 10 minutes. Tell them: the AI does not know them, does not care about them and is not their counsellor. If anything ever feels weird, sexual, scary or like advice on hurting themselves, they show you. No consequences.
Once a week, briefly look at the Parent Insights email together. Talk about the top characters they have chatted with and ask gently what they were about.
Red flags to watch for
This is practical educational content to support families. For case-specific concerns about a child's safety, contact the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000 or your local safeguarding team.