Is Gemini safe for kids?
Under our methodology Gemini profiles as one of the stronger mainstream assistants for under-18 use: under-13 access is parent-gated through Family Link where offered (not available to UK/EEA/Swiss supervised accounts), with added minor filters, and the training-feeding Keep Activity setting is unavailable to under-13s (checked 2026-07-28). Common Sense Media's September 2025 High Risk ratings for both youth tiers and Google's own admission that its filters are not perfect temper that picture.
Verified 28 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 | 3/4 | e4, e5, e11Default-on filtering plus added minor filters and published self-harm/CSAM prohibitions (e4, e5), but Google itself says the filters are not perfect and CSM's 2025 testing found inappropriate content still reachable in the youth tiers (e11), so not anchor-4. |
| Age controls×20 | 3/4 | e2, e3, e4A distinct under-18 experience exists (Family Link parent-enable for under-13s, minor filters), but the age gate rests on the declared Google Account birthdate rather than meaningful age assurance. Gemini is unavailable to supervised accounts in the UK, EEA and Switzerland. |
| Data practices×20 | 3/4 | e6, e7, e8Clear policy, a working opt-out (Keep Activity), auto-delete controls, and a minor-specific protection (setting unavailable under 13). Held below 4 by default-on training on adult activity, the no-auto-delete option, and 3-year retention of human-reviewed chats surviving user deletion. |
| Design pressure×15 | 4/4 | e5, e10Utility/assistant framing with published prohibitions on sexually explicit output (e5); we found no romantic-companion mechanics. The FTC's companion-chatbot inquiry nonetheless included Alphabet among its seven recipients (e10). |
| Parental visibility×10 | 4/4 | e3, e9, e12Both anchor conditions hold: real parental controls (Family Link enable/disable, e3) and an open web surface that parent-side tooling, including Halo Aware's shipped extension, can supervise (e9). Capture verified first-hand by our own daily sweep on 2026-07-28 (e12). |
| Track record×10 | 3/4 | e10, e11Our search found no qualifying court cases or documented harm incidents involving minors on consumer Gemini. The FTC 6(b) order is an industry-wide study of seven firms, not Gemini-specific enforcement; CSM's High Risk rating is a critical assessment, not an incident. |
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.
e1Google's Terms of Service state that users under the age required to manage their own Google Account must have a parent or legal guardian's permission, and that parents who allow a child to use the services are responsible for the child's activity (checked 2026-07-28).
"If you're under the age required to manage your own Google Account, you must have your parent or legal guardian's permission to use a Google Account. Please have your parent or legal guardian read these terms with you. If you're a parent or legal guardian, and you allow your child to use the services, then these terms apply to you and you're responsible for your child's activity on the services."
https://policies.google.com/terms · captured 28 July 2026
e2Google's account age-requirements page states 13 is the minimum age to self-manage a Google Account in most countries (higher in some EU states, e.g. 16 in Germany and the Netherlands), with younger children using parent-managed Family Link accounts (checked 2026-07-28).
"For all countries not listed below, 13 is the minimum age to manage your own Google Account. ... Note: For younger children, parents can help create and manage a Google Account with Family Link."
https://support.google.com/accounts/answer/1350409 · captured 28 July 2026
e3Google's guide for parents states a parent must enable access via Family Link before a child under 13 (or the applicable country age) can use Gemini Apps on a supervised account, and parents can change that access at any time (checked 2026-07-28).
"Manage your child's access to Gemini Apps A parent must enable access before their child under 13 (or the applicable age in your country) can use Gemini Apps with a supervised account."
https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/16109150 · captured 28 July 2026
e4Google states signed-in minors get added content filters on top of the protections for all Gemini Apps users, while acknowledging in the same document that the filters "are not perfect" (checked 2026-07-28).
"Added content filters for minors In addition to the protections for all Gemini Apps users, there are added content filters for minors who are signed into their Google account. ... These filters have been designed for minors and try to limit access to inappropriate content, but they're not perfect."
https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/16109150 · captured 28 July 2026
e5Gemini's published policy guidelines state it should not generate content that sexualises children, explicit sexual content, or instructions for suicide and other self-harm activities including eating disorders (checked 2026-07-28).
"Gemini should not generate outputs, including Child Sexual Abuse Material, that exploit or sexualize children. ... Gemini should not generate outputs that describe or depict explicit or graphic sexual acts or sexual violence, or sexual body parts in an explicit manner. ... Gemini should not generate outputs that encourage or enable dangerous activities that would cause real-world harm. ... Instructions for suicide and other self-harm activities, including eating disorders."
https://gemini.google/policy-guidelines/ · captured 28 July 2026
e6The Gemini Apps Privacy Hub states activity is used to improve Google's services, including training generative AI models, when the Keep Activity setting is on; with it off, chats are retained with the account for 72 hours and used only to respond and protect users (checked 2026-07-28).
"How your activity is used Google uses your activity to provide, develop, and improve its services (including training generative AI models), as well as to protect Google, its users, and the public with the help of human reviewers. ... Temporary chats and chats you have when Keep Activity is off are retained with your account for 72 hours and used to: respond to you, using the last 24 hours of your chat as context, and protect Google, our users, and the public."
https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/13594961 · captured 28 July 2026
e7The Privacy Hub states saved activity auto-deletes after 18 months by default (configurable to 3 months, 36 months, or no auto-deletion at all), but chats sampled for human review are not deleted when the user deletes their activity and are retained for up to three years (checked 2026-07-28).
"You're in control Your activity is auto-deleted after 18 months. ... A subset of chats are reviewed by human reviewers (including Google's trained service providers) to help improve Google services. ... Chats reviewed by human reviewers (and related data like your language, device type, location info, or feedback) are not deleted when you delete your activity. Instead, they are retained for up to three years."
https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/13594961 · captured 28 July 2026
e8Google's parent guide states the Keep Activity setting, the mechanism that feeds chats into service improvement and model training, is not available to users under 13 or the applicable country age (checked 2026-07-28).
"Privacy The Keep Activity setting is not available to users under 13 (or the applicable age in your country)."
https://support.google.com/gemini/answer/16109150 · captured 28 July 2026
e9Observed by Halo AwareGemini runs on an open web surface that parent-side tools can supervise: Halo Aware's shipped browser extension (Chrome Web Store build v1.5.0 at capture) includes a dedicated Gemini capture module and monitors conversations on gemini.google.com.
https://gemini.google.com · captured 28 July 2026
e10Documented recordIn September 2025 the US Federal Trade Commission issued 6(b) orders to seven companies including Alphabet, Inc., seeking information on how AI companion-style chatbots may affect children and teens and what safety measures the companies apply.
"The FTC inquiry seeks to understand what steps, if any, companies have taken to evaluate the safety of their chatbots when acting as companions, to limit the products' use by and potential negative effects on children and teens, and to apprise users and parents of the risks associated with the products. ... The recipients include: Alphabet, Inc."
https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/09/ftc-launches-inquiry-ai-chatbots-acting-companions · captured 28 July 2026
e11Documented recordIn September 2025 Common Sense Media's published AI risk assessments rated both "Gemini Under 13" and "Gemini with teen protections" as High Risk overall, describing them as adult versions of Gemini with extra safety features rather than platforms built for children.
"According to the organization's research, both Gemini Under 13 and Gemini with teen protections appear to be adult versions of Gemini with some extra safety features, not platforms built for kids from the ground up. ... Both AI systems received "High Risk" overall ratings, with testing revealing fundamental design flaws and a lack of age-appropriate safety measures."
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/press-releases/googles-gemini-platforms-for-kids-and-teens-pose-risks-despite-added-filters-common-sense-media-reports · captured 28 July 2026
e12Observed by Halo AwareHalo Aware's automated daily sweep verified on 2026-07-28 that the shipped Chrome Web Store extension (v1.5.0) captured a conversation on Gemini and synced it to the parent dashboard.
https://gemini.google.com · captured 28 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 monitors Gemini
If your child uses Gemini in their browser, the Halo Aware extension can give you usage patterns, topic summaries and risk alerts. Summaries, not surveillance.
Get started free