Every chatbot sets its own minimum age, and the numbers differ. Here are the main ones side by side, what changes for children and teens, and what parents can and cannot control.
| App | Minimum age | What changes for children and teens | What parents can control | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ChatGPT | 13 or the minimum age in your country, if higher | Under 18 needs a parent or guardian's permission. Accounts that look under 18 get ChatGPT for Teens automatically, with extra protections. | A parent can link to a teen's account (the teen must be 13 or older) to set quiet hours and study hours and to limit sensitive content. Linking does not let a parent read the chats. | OpenAI terms |
| Gemini | Children under 13 (or the age in your country) only through a supervised Google account | A parent must switch Gemini on in Family Link first. Google says access is being released gradually, and it is not available for supervised accounts in the UK, the EEA or Switzerland. Teens get extra content filters when signed in. | Family Link: Controls, then Gemini Apps, to turn it on or off. Google advises trying it together first. | Google Gemini help |
| Claude | 18 | Claude is only for adults. Anthropic checks age at sign-up and may ask you to verify your age if it sees signs that you are under 18. | None for teens, because teens are not allowed. | Claude help |
| Microsoft Copilot | 13 as a baseline, higher in some countries | You must sign in to use it, and access is restricted for children under 13. For under-18 users, Microsoft says it does not train its AI on their data and tailors answers on sensitive topics. | Microsoft Family Safety, or the settings on an Android or Apple device, can block the Copilot app or Copilot in a browser. | Microsoft Copilot help |
| Meta AI | Not allowed under 13 (14 in some regions) | Supervision is offered for teens aged 13 to 17 (14 to 17 in some regions). Meta has said it paused teen access to its AI characters, so check its current page. | Supervision lets a parent see the general topics a teen asks about, not the conversations, and move the teen to a stricter setting. Either side can end supervision. | Meta AI help |
These are the companies' own rules, taken from their terms and help pages. They are not laws or a recommendation that an app suits every child of that age. Rules also differ by country, so look at the company's page for yours.
Where a company says children under a certain age should not have an account, please do not set one up for them. Two safer routes are to wait, or to use the app yourself and read the answers aloud while your child asks and thinks. Check that app's terms first, because some limit how an account can be shared.
If your child has already been using one, stay calm and talk about it. Ask what they use it for, look at it together and agree what to do if an answer feels wrong or strange.
For the settings step by step, with a printable family agreement, use our free Kids & Teens AI Kit.
These free prompts are written for an adult to run with a child, or for teens to use within each app's rules. Each one says what to do if the AI gets it wrong.
ChatGPT's terms set a minimum age of 13, or higher where the law of your country says so, so a 10-year-old should not have an account of their own. An adult can use it and read answers aloud, but check the app's terms and use your own judgment.
No. Claude is only for people 18 and older, and Anthropic may ask you to verify your age if it thinks you are younger.
Generally no. ChatGPT's parental controls do not show you the conversations, and Meta's supervision shows only the topics. Talking with your teen about how they use AI is more useful than looking over their shoulder.
Often. Companies update their terms and parental tools several times a year. This page was checked on October 27, 2026, so check the company's own page, linked below, before you rely on a detail.
Checked on October 27, 2026 against the pages linked in the table. Companies change their rules often. If you spot something that is out of date, email info@everydayaifinds.com.