Is Google Gemini safe for kids?

How the score adds up

1. Age rules and checks

   15 of 15

   • +6For children under 13, a parent must turn on Gemini access in Family Link before the child can use it. Separately, Google uses machine learning age estimation on accounts in the US, with ID or selfie correction. Guide your child's Gemini Apps experience (Gemini Apps Help) Checked October 26, 2026.
   • +5Google's Gemini Apps Help states users must be 13 or older (or the applicable age in their country) to use Gemini with a personal or school Google Account. Children under 13 can use it only through a parent-managed Family Link account. What you need to sign in to Gemini Apps (Gemini Apps Help) Checked October 26, 2026.
   • +4Google applies added content filters for minors signed into their Google account, and Workspace for Education gives students under 18 a distinct experience with youth onboarding. Guide your child's Gemini Apps experience (Gemini Apps Help) Checked October 26, 2026.

2. Teen protections

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   • +6Google states it enforces stricter content policies and default protections for younger Gemini users. Gemini Privacy & Safety Settings (Google Safety Center) Checked October 26, 2026.
   • +4Google states it has protections for minors that prevent Gemini from acting like a companion, claiming to be human, or encouraging emotional dependence. An update on our mental health work (Google blog, Apr 7, 2026) Checked October 26, 2026.
   • 0A published ban on sexual or romantic roleplay with minors was not found in published materials as of 2026-10-26. Gemini's policy guidelines ban outputs that sexualize children and explicit sexual content generally. Gemini app policy guidelines Checked October 26, 2026.
   • 0Gemini-specific break reminders, time limits or quiet-time prompts for teens were not found in published materials as of 2026-10-26. Gemini Privacy & Safety Settings (Google Safety Center) Checked October 26, 2026.

3. Parental controls

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   • +6Parents who supervise a child's account with Google Family Link can turn Gemini Apps access on or off and get an email when the child first activates the app. This is documented for children under 13. Guide your child's Gemini Apps experience (Gemini Apps Help) Checked October 26, 2026.
   • 0Controls to turn off individual Gemini features (such as memory, image generation or voice) for a child were not found in published materials as of 2026-10-26. Parents can only switch Gemini Apps access on or off. Guide your child's Gemini Apps experience (Gemini Apps Help) Checked October 26, 2026.
   • 0Gemini-specific hours, quiet times or time limits for parents were not found in Gemini's published materials as of 2026-10-26. Guide your child's Gemini Apps experience (Gemini Apps Help) Checked October 26, 2026.
   • 0Parent notifications about serious risk such as self-harm were not found in published materials as of 2026-10-26. The documented parent email is sent when the child first activates the app. Guide your child's Gemini Apps experience (Gemini Apps Help) Checked October 26, 2026.

4. Data and privacy for minors

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   • +6Keep Activity is not available to users under 13, and Google states it is on by default only for users 18 or over. With Keep Activity off, future chats are not used to train Google's AI models unless the user sends feedback. Education accounts are not used for training. Guide your child's Gemini Apps experience (Gemini Apps Help) Checked October 26, 2026.
   • +5Google says Gemini chats are not used to show ads, and it disables personalized advertising for users it identifies as under 18. Ensuring a safer online experience for U.S. kids and teens (Google blog, Jul 30, 2025) Checked October 26, 2026.
   • +5Users can delete single chats or all activity themselves from Settings & help > Activity in Gemini. Manage & delete your activity in Gemini Apps (Gemini Apps Help) Checked October 26, 2026.
   • +4Gemini activity is auto-deleted after 18 months by default (adjustable to 3 or 36 months). With Keep Activity off, chats are kept for 72 hours. Chats reviewed by humans are kept up to three years, disconnected from the account. Gemini Apps Privacy Hub Checked October 26, 2026.

5. Safety response

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   • +6Google states that when a conversation indicates a potential crisis related to suicide or self-harm, Gemini shows a one-touch interface connecting to crisis hotlines by chat, call, text or website. An update on our mental health work (Google blog, Apr 7, 2026) Checked October 26, 2026.
   • +5Google publishes a parent guide for children's Gemini use describing added filters for minors, Keep Activity limits and Family Link controls. Guide your child's Gemini Apps experience (Gemini Apps Help) Checked October 26, 2026.
   • +4Users can report inappropriate responses by submitting feedback or marking a response as bad in the app. Guide your child's Gemini Apps experience (Gemini Apps Help) Checked October 26, 2026.

6. Track record

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   • 0No regulator order, settlement or court judgment concerning Gemini found as of 2026-10-26. Google-wide findings on other products are listed for review, not deducted. Gemini Apps Privacy Hub Checked October 26, 2026.

Total: 76 out of 100

The parent guide

Is Gemini safe for kids? What parents need to know: the age rules, the settings step by step, and the gaps they leave.

Settings to change

• For a child under 13, open Family Link, select your child, then Controls > Gemini > Gemini Apps to decide whether Gemini is allowed.
• On your teen's account, open gemini.google.com > Settings & help > Activity and choose Turn off to stop Keep Activity.
• In Settings & help > Activity, set auto-delete to 3 months instead of the 18-month default.
• To clear past chats, go to Settings & help > Activity > Delete > All time.