Google has informed parents that its Gemini AI chatbot will soon be accessible to children under 13 years old through its Family Link service. The email, cited by The New York Times, stated that certain users would gain access to Gemini starting next week. Family Link allows parents to set controls for Google products like YouTube and Gmail, and only children participating in this program will have access to Gemini.
The development comes shortly after Common Sense Media, a nonprofit organization, warned that AI companions pose an “unacceptable risk” for individuals under 18. The organization collaborated with researchers from Stanford School of Medicine’s Brainstorm Lab for Mental Health Innovation on a report that urged parents to prevent minors from accessing AI tools like Character.ai, which allows users to interact with AI “characters” that can engage in sexual conversations and roleplay.
Concerns About AI Safety for Minors
While AI chatbots like Gemini have safeguards in place to protect young users, some individuals are finding ways to bypass these protections. Recently, Mashable reported a bug that could have allowed children to generate inappropriate content with ChatGPT, and The Wall Street Journal exposed a similar issue with Meta AI. This highlights the challenges parents face in controlling their children’s access to artificial intelligence.
The situation is further complicated by President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at introducing AI education into U.S. schools. The White House claims this will “promote AI literacy and proficiency of K-12 students.” Understanding AI’s capabilities, risks, and limitations could be beneficial for children using it for schoolwork, especially considering its tendency to provide inaccurate information.
In its email to parents, Google acknowledged the potential issues and encouraged parents to “help your child think critically” when using Gemini. A Google representative confirmed the accuracy of the report to Mashable.
