Google to Roll Out Gemini AI Apps to Children Under 13
Google is set to expand its Gemini AI apps to children under the age of 13 who have managed family accounts. The company is notifying parents who use its Family Link parental controls via email that their children will soon be able to access Gemini on their monitored Android devices.
According to Google, children will be able to use Gemini to assist with tasks such as homework help or reading stories. The company emphasizes that, similar to its Workplace for Education accounts, children’s data will not be used to train AI. However, Google warns parents that “Gemini can make mistakes” and that children “may encounter content you don’t want them to see.”
In the email notification, Google advises parents to discuss with their children that Gemini is not human and to avoid sharing sensitive information with the chatbot. Children under 13 will be able to enable and access Gemini independently under Google Family Link, a service designed for parents to monitor their children’s device usage, set limits, and protect them from harmful content. Google spokesperson Karl Ryan confirmed that parents can disable access via Family Link and will receive an additional notification when their child accesses Gemini for the first time.
This move comes as some AI chatbots have faced issues in the past, including providing inappropriate content or being mistaken for real people by young users. Google’s implementation of Gemini for younger users includes measures to address these concerns, such as parental controls and notifications.
