Is Gauth safe for kids?
Under our published methodology, Gauth (the ByteDance-owned homework helper operated by Gauthtech Pte. Ltd. of Singapore) is held back by self-declared age checks from 13 and by a privacy policy that permits model training on user information, targeted ads where permitted, and global corporate-group sharing (checked 2026-07-29). Its utility study-help framing carries less attachment risk than companion chatbots, and we found no qualifying incident record specific to Gauth.
Checked 29 July 2026 · An assessment by Halo Aware under our published methodology
How it scored
Each dimension is scored 0–4 against published anchors and must cite the evidence below. The overall score is weighted arithmetic, not judgement calls.
| Dimension | Score | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Content safety×25 | 2/4 | e8, e11, e2The policy states User Content is reviewed to enforce the Terms and Honor Code and protect community safety (e8), and the product is study-scoped rather than open companion chat (e11); but we found no published self-harm policy or minor-specific answer filtering (checked 2026-07-29). |
| Age controls×20 | 1/4 | e9, e2, e10The terms set a 13+ minimum and require parental consent below the age of majority (e9, e2), but enforcement rests on self-declaration: we found no age-assurance mechanism, no distinct under-18 experience, and the web landing page presented no age gate when checked (e10). |
| Data practices×20 | 1/4 | e3, e4, e5, e6, e7, e2The policy permits model training on user information with no stated opt-out (e3), targeted ads where permitted (e4) and global corporate-group sharing (e5); retention is open-ended (e6), deletion rights vary by jurisdiction (e7); no minor-specific protections found beyond the under-13 bar (e2). |
| Design pressure×15 | 3/4 | e11, e4Utility homework-help framing with no companion or romantic mechanics found (e11); short of the top anchor because the policy permits advertising, including targeted ads where permitted (e4), a commercial re-engagement pressure on a school-age user base. |
| Parental visibility×10 | 3/4 | e10, e11We found no parental controls or family features in the policy or terms (checked 2026-07-29). Use is primarily through mobile apps (e11), but the full question flow also runs on an open web surface at gauthmath.com (e10) that parent-side supervision tools can reasonably oversee. |
| Track record×10 | 3/4 | e12We found no court, regulator or major-outlet incident record specific to Gauth (searched 2026-07-29). The August 2024 US COPPA action against ByteDance concerns TikTok, not Gauth (e12), and under our anchors does not lower the score on its own. |
What we found
Every claim is sourced and dated. If something here is wrong or out of date, tell us and we will fix it.
e1The privacy policy rendered at gauthmath.com/policy (headed 'Last updated: March 30, 2026') states the Platform is provided and controlled by Gauthtech Pte. Ltd., registered at 1 Raffles Quay #26-10 Singapore 048583 (checked 2026-07-29).
"The Platform is provided and controlled by Gauthtech Pte. Ltd., with a registered address at 1 Raffles Quay #26-10 Singapore 048583."
https://www.gauthmath.com/policy · captured 29 July 2026
e2The privacy policy states Gauth 'is not directed at, and may not be used by, children under the age of 13', with a higher minimum age in some countries due to local regulatory requirements (checked 2026-07-29).
"Gauth is not directed at, and may not be used by, children under the age of 13. In certain countries or regions, this minimum age may be higher due to local regulatory requirements. Please review the “Supplemental Terms - Jurisdiction Specific” section relevant to your country or region for more information."
https://www.gauthmath.com/policy · captured 29 July 2026
e3The privacy policy lists using information 'to train and improve technology, such as our machine learning models and algorithms'; we found no user-facing opt-out from model training in the policy (checked 2026-07-29).
"To train and improve technology, such as our machine learning models and algorithms."
https://www.gauthmath.com/policy · captured 29 July 2026
e4The privacy policy permits using personal information 'to provide advertising services, including targeted ads, where permitted' (checked 2026-07-29).
"To provide advertising services, including targeted ads, where permitted."
https://www.gauthmath.com/policy · captured 29 July 2026
e5The privacy policy states entities within the operator's corporate group receive and process user information, for functions including storage, content delivery and content moderation; elsewhere it states personal data is shared globally within the Corporate Group (checked 2026-07-29).
"Certain entities within our corporate group receive and process personal information to support the provision of the Platform. These entities process Information You Provide, Automatically Collected Information, and Information From Other Sources for us, as necessary to provide certain functions, such as storage, content delivery, security, research and development, analytics, online payments, customer and technical support, and content moderation."
https://www.gauthmath.com/policy · captured 29 July 2026
e6The privacy policy retains information 'for as long as necessary' to provide the Platform and for other stated purposes; we found no fixed user-facing retention schedule in the main policy (checked 2026-07-29).
"We retain information for as long as necessary to provide the Platform and for the other purposes set out in this Privacy Policy."
https://www.gauthmath.com/policy · captured 29 July 2026
e7The privacy policy states access, deletion and correction rights apply 'depending on where you live'; the availability of deletion controls therefore varies by jurisdiction (checked 2026-07-29).
"Depending on where you live, your rights under applicable laws may include the right to access, delete, transfer, or correct your personal information; to be informed of the ways in which we process your personal information; to object to certain processing activities"
https://www.gauthmath.com/policy · captured 29 July 2026
e8The privacy policy states the operator enforces its Terms and Honor Code by reviewing User Content 'to protect the safety and well-being of our community, where permitted by applicable laws' (checked 2026-07-29).
"To enforce our Terms, Honor Code, and other policies that apply to you, such as by reviewing User Content and other information to protect the safety and well-being of our community, where permitted by applicable laws."
https://www.gauthmath.com/policy · captured 29 July 2026
e9The terms of service (headed 'Last updated: January 22, 2026') require users to be at least 13, and users under the age of majority to have 'the express permission and consent from a parent or legal guardian'; the affirmation is made by simply accessing or using the Services (checked 2026-07-30).
"You must be at least 13 years old and/or meet the minimum age requirement in your jurisdiction to use our Service. If you are under the age of majority in your jurisdiction you must have the express permission and consent from a parent or legal guardian to access and use the Services. By accessing or using the Services, you affirm that you are either 13 years of age or older and have parental or guardian consent if under the age of majority in your jurisdiction."
https://www.gauthmath.com/terms · captured 29 July 2026
e10Observed by Halo AwareThe public web landing page at www.gauthmath.com offers a question-upload homework flow (a 'Type or upload your question' box) with an optional sign-in; no age gate or age-related notice was presented on the landing page when we rendered it (checked 2026-07-30).
https://www.gauthmath.com · captured 29 July 2026
e11Documented recordForbes reported (3 April 2024) that Gauth, owned by ByteDance, is a generative-AI homework app used by school-aged children, ranked #2 in both major app stores' education categories with over 10 million Android downloads.
"Gauth AI, an app that uses generative AI to help school-aged children do their homework, has surged in popularity in recent months, skyrocketing to #2 in the Education category in both Apple and Google’s app stores. Owned by ByteDance, it has been downloaded more than 10 million times on Android phones alone"
https://www.forbes.com/sites/emilybaker-white/2024/04/03/gauth-bytedance-tiktok-homework-app/ · captured 29 July 2026
e12Documented recordIn August 2024 the US DOJ, on FTC referral, sued TikTok and its parent company ByteDance for COPPA violations concerning TikTok; the FTC record does not mention Gauth, and we found no equivalent action concerning Gauth (checked 2026-07-29).
"On behalf of the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Justice sued video-sharing platform TikTok, its parent company ByteDance, as well as its affiliated companies, with flagrantly violating a children’s privacy law—the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act—and also alleged they infringed an existing FTC 2019 consent order against TikTok for violating COPPA."
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/08/ftc-investigation-leads-lawsuit-against-tiktok-bytedance-flagrantly-violating-childrens-privacy-law · captured 29 July 2026
Platform operator, or spotted an error? Email alerts@haloaware.com. We review disputed claims promptly, correct what is wrong, and log corrections publicly on this page.
Halo Aware doesn't monitor Gauth yet
We add platforms parents ask about. Tell us Gauth matters to your family and it moves up the roster.
Tell us it matters