Claude no longer available to minors
claude copilot gemini
| Source: HN | Original article
Claude is now blocked for minors, imposing stricter age limits than other AI chat services.
Anthropic has tightened access to its Claude chatbot, making the service unavailable to anyone under 18. The change, announced this week, follows a series of identity‑verification steps that the company now requires for users in states where new legislation obliges app stores to confirm ages and share that data with developers. The rollout is being implemented in stages, with the restriction already active in several U.S. jurisdictions.
The move places Claude on the strictest end of the generative‑AI spectrum. While competitors such as ChatGPT, Gemini, Copilot and Meta AI permit users as young as 13 – often with parental consent – Anthropic’s policy bars all minors, even with parental approval. The company cites compliance with state‑level age‑verification laws as the primary driver, and the new checks also serve to prevent account locks that have been reported by users who were flagged as underage.
Why it matters is twofold. First, the 18‑plus rule could limit Claude’s reach among younger audiences and educators who have been exploring the model for learning tools. Second, the policy underscores a growing regulatory pressure on AI providers to embed age safeguards, echoing recent legislative actions such as California’s restrictions on minors’ interactions with chatbots.
Anthropic’s stricter stance follows earlier coverage of user frustrations with age‑related account suspensions, reported in April. Observers will now watch how the rollout progresses across additional states, whether other AI firms adjust their own age thresholds, and if any legal challenges arise from the new verification requirements. The evolving landscape suggests that age‑based access controls could become a standard feature of AI services in the coming months.
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