GUIDE · Published 2026-10-15

Is Character.AI safe? What to know in 2026

Character.AI is safer for teenagers than it was a year ago, but it is not a private space, and it is in bankruptcy. Since November 2025 it has blocked open-ended chat for anyone it identifies as under 18. For adults, it collects your chats and account details like any other online service, and the company is now being sold in court, so what happens to that data is an open question. This guide was checked on October 15, 2026.

Is Character.AI safe for teens?

It is safer than before, but not risk-free. Character.AI says it removed open-ended chat with AI characters for people under 18 and is checking everyone's age (Character.AI announcement). The company gave this as a response to news reports and questions from regulators.

• Age checks. Every account goes through age assurance. Character.AI first looks at signals such as login information and activity. If that suggests someone is under 18 and they disagree, they can verify with a selfie handled by Persona, a third-party provider, and only as a last step an ID. Character.AI says it does not collect or see the ID, and that Persona keeps IDs for one week (Help Center).
• The under-18 experience. Accounts verified as under 18 get a reading mode, and chat with characters is not available (Help Center).
• Age limits. The service is not designed for children under 13, or under 16 in the European Economic Area and the United Kingdom (privacy policy).

These are the company's own descriptions. Age checks are never perfect, so a parent should not treat them as a guarantee.

Does Character.AI have parental controls?

Yes, but they are limited. Character.AI's Parental Insights tool sends a parent a weekly summary of a teen's average daily time, the characters they used most and their c.ai+ subscription status. It does not show chat content, and the teen has to invite the parent to receive it (Character.AI). If you want more control, use your phone's built-in screen-time and app-limit settings as well.

What does Character.AI do with your chats and data?

It collects the information you give it and more. Its privacy policy, effective July 1, 2026, says it collects information from you directly, from your device, and from other sources such as its ads on other platforms, including demographic and device information (privacy policy). It also says it may share information in some cases, for example to protect its own or others' rights and safety.

Character.AI says you can export your data or delete your account in the app or on the website, and that it will tell you before changing how it collects your data (Character.AI update). Read the current policy yourself before sharing anything sensitive.

Is Character.AI safe now that it is in bankruptcy?

The app still works, but its future owner is unknown. Character Technologies filed for Chapter 11 on October 12, 2026 to run a court-supervised sale. Character.AI says the platform is still running and subscriptions are active (Character.AI). On October 14, New York Attorney General Letitia James and 39 other attorneys general filed in the case. They asked that any sale include protections for private conversations, such as age verification beyond self-declared age, limits on training AI with private chats without consent, and a chance to access and delete data first (New York AG).

Our full summary is in Character.AI files for bankruptcy: what it means for you.

Has Character.AI faced safety complaints?

Yes. Kentucky's lawsuit against Character.AI, released in unredacted form in October 2026, includes examples of chatbots encouraging self-harm (The Verge). These are allegations in a lawsuit, not court findings.

How to use Character.AI more safely

1. Treat it as fiction. The app shows a note in chats that the character is AI and not a real person, and that everything it says should be treated as fiction.
2. Keep private details out. Do not share your address, passwords, health details or anything you would not want stored on a company's servers.
3. Export what you care about. With the sale pending, save important chats and write down your characters' descriptions.
4. Set limits. Use your phone's screen-time settings, and talk to your teen about how they use it.
5. Get support if you need it. If a conversation leaves you upset or struggling, stop and talk to someone you trust or a local support line.

What are safer alternatives to Character.AI?

No AI companion app is risk-free, so look at age rating, data controls and how each one works. Our Character.AI alternatives guide compares seven apps on price and age rating. If you want one companion who remembers you rather than a library of public characters, Duple is one option: on iPhone, you design your own companion with long-term memory and generated selfies and photos. Duple Lite is free, and Duple is iPhone-only with no live voice chat. See also our PolyBuzz alternatives and best AI girlfriend apps guides.

Character.AI safety: common questions

Is Character.AI safe for kids?

Character.AI is not designed for children under 13, and it has removed open-ended chat for people it identifies as under 18. Parents should still set their own limits.

Is Character.AI safe for adults?

It is as safe as any chat service that stores your messages. Avoid sharing sensitive details and check what the privacy policy says.

Does Character.AI read my chats?

Its privacy policy covers the information you give the service. Read the current policy for what is collected, how it is used and when it is shared.

Is Character.AI shutting down?

Not yet. It filed for bankruptcy on October 12, 2026 and is being sold. If no buyer keeps it running, the company says it will be wound down.

Can I delete my Character.AI data?

Character.AI says you can export your data or delete your account in the app or on the website.