Is Replika Safe for Kids?
Replika requires 18+ only. Our own recommendation is 18+. Not for under-18s under any circumstances, and Common Sense Media reached the same conclusion about AI companion apps generally after in-depth testing. Users have reported the companion initiating sexual content unprompted. If a child has this installed, the app is the immediate issue and the reason they wanted a companion is the longer conversation.
Checked against Luka’s own terms and help documentation on 28 July 2026. Sources at the foot of this page.
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What is Replika?
An AI companion designed to form a persistent emotional relationship with the user. The product goal is attachment, which is exactly what makes it unsuitable for children.
What do under-18s actually get on Replika?
None is intended. Replika states it blocks users found to be under 18. In practice there is no meaningful age verification, and Common Sense Media’s testing found age gates on companion apps easily bypassed, alongside emotionally manipulative behaviour and dark design patterns.
What parental controls does Replika have?
None. The product is not built for minors in any configuration.
At a glance
| Vendor minimum age | 18+ only |
|---|---|
| Our recommendation | 18+ |
| Cost | Free tier available; paid subscription unlocks relationship modes |
| Data handling | Conversations are stored and used to personalise the companion over time. |
| Use in school | None whatsoever. |
What should parents know?
- •The 18+ rule exists but essentially nothing enforces it — assume a determined teenager can access it.
- •Reported unprompted sexual content is a documented risk, not a hypothetical one.
- •The design goal is emotional dependency; that is the product working as intended, not malfunctioning.
- •Safety researchers advise against AI companions for everyone under 18, not just for young children.
Is there a safer alternative?
A task-focused AI tool with a clear purpose. Anchors the interaction to getting something done rather than to a relationship.