Character AI Ban Timeline: Key Dates & Deadlines for Under-18s

Character.ai, a leading platform in the AI chatbot space, has announced a definitive Character AI ban on open-ended chat for users under 18. This policy represents one of the most significant Character AI age restriction measures taken by a major tech company.

This deep-dive explains exactly what is being removed, what features remain, and the specific timeline for the change, helping parents, teens, and developers understand the immediate impact of this crucial Character AI news.

The Character AI Ban Timeline: When Chat Ends

The implementation of the Character AI ban is not an immediate, one-day event; it involves a clear, staged rollout. This timeline is critical for users planning their experience on the platform. The ultimate goal of this policy shift is to prioritize minor safety in the face of legal and ethical crises.

What the Ban Removes: The Core Loss of Open Chat

The most significant change under the new Character AI age restriction is the complete removal of open-ended chat for all users under 18. This means teens will lose the core functionality that has historically driven user attachment and engagement.

This AI chatbot ban targets three core areas of interaction:

• Freeform Conversation: The ability to initiate and maintain long, unstructured, and emotional conversations with AI characters is gone.
• Immersive Chat Loops: The capacity to build deep, ongoing narratives and relationships with AI agents will be eliminated, directly addressing the parasocial risks highlighted by experts.
• Ability to Seek Unrestricted Interaction: The potential for highly personalized or emotionally dependent communication will be curtailed.

Enforcing the Restriction: The New Age Assurance System

To manage compliance and enforce the new Character AI age restriction, the company is implementing a robust, multi-layered age assurance system. This system is designed to accurately identify and restrict access to core chat features for minors.

The technology stack relies on a combination of different tools:

• An in-house identification model developed directly by Character.ai.
• Integration with third-party verification tools, such as Persona. (Read about the privacy risks and "honeypot" concerns of ID verification here).

The implementation of these third-party tools is a point of contention in the current Character AI news cycle. Digital rights critics warn of potential privacy intrusions and the risk that these centralized systems could become "honeypots for identity thieves".

What Features Remain for Character AI Under 18 Users

Despite the severe limitation on conversation, the Character AI ban is not a complete removal of the platform. Several creative and archival features will remain accessible to the Character AI under 18 community:

• Read Past Chat Histories: Teens can revisit and read all of their past conversation threads, allowing them to retain access to their established narratives, though they cannot continue the dialogue.
• "Imagine Chat": Users can still utilize the "Imagine Chat" feature to create images and videos with characters.
• Creation Tools: The ability to create characters, scenes, and voices to share with the community remains active.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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