Responsible AI Companion Use: Age Policy, Data Privacy, and Healthy Engagement

This site covers adult AI companion platforms seriously — which includes covering responsible use seriously. The following are our editorial standards, what we require of reviewed platforms, and practical guidance for users.

Age Policy: 18+ Without Exception

Every platform reviewed on this site requires users to be at least 18 years old. This is a legal requirement, not an optional guideline.

US platforms serving adult content must comply with 18 U.S.C. 2257, requiring documentation that all depicted individuals (including AI character representations) are adults. Age verification at registration enforces this.

For parents and guardians: These platforms are designed for adults and contain content not appropriate for minors. Parental control tools — available via device OS, routers, and browser extensions — can restrict access. Active monitoring of teenagers' AI usage is recommended.

We do not review platforms without meaningful 18+ verification at registration.

Content Standards We Require

We review platforms only if they meet minimum content standards:

Required prohibitions:

• No content depicting minors — absolute prohibition
• No content approving of non-consensual scenarios
• No content designed to facilitate real-world harm

Required infrastructure:

• User reporting tools for guideline violations
• Actual enforcement when violations occur
• Accessible community guidelines before content generation
• Clear terms of service on what content is and is not permitted

Platforms failing these standards are excluded regardless of quality scores.

Data Privacy for AI Companion Users

These platforms collect intimate personal data. That deserves direct acknowledgment.

What is typically collected:

• Conversation history and chat logs
• Account information and preferences
• Session data and usage patterns
• Device and network information

Verify before registering:

• Data retention period after account deletion — GirlfriendGPT retains for 6 years (industry outlier; norms are 30 days to 12 months)
• What data categories are collected
• Third-party data sharing conditions

Practical steps:

• Use a unique password not reused elsewhere
• Enable two-factor authentication where offered
• Use an email address not tied to your primary identity if anonymity matters
• Don't share financial details, home address, or genuinely sensitive personal data in AI conversations
• Read the data retention section of the privacy policy — not just the "what we collect" summary

Our data practices for this site: privacy policy.

Healthy Engagement Patterns

AI companion platforms are engineered for engagement. The AI produces responses optimized to encourage continued use. Understanding this design is part of using it responsibly.

Healthy engagement:

• AI companion use as one activity among several, not a primary social outlet
• Maintained real-world relationships alongside AI interaction
• Personal time and spending limits set proactively
• Periodic honest assessment of whether usage patterns have shifted

Signs to watch for:

• Consistent preference for AI interaction over available human contact
• Anxiety or distress when unable to access the platform
• Spending that creates financial stress
• Gradual isolation from real-world relationships or activities

If any of these patterns are present, the resources below provide appropriate support.

Support resources:

• SAMHSA: 1-800-662-4357 (24/7, free, confidential)
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
• A licensed therapist can provide assessment and personalized guidance on technology use

Our Editorial Accountability

Our affiliate relationships create potential conflicts. We address them through policy:

• GirlfriendGPT's 6-year data retention is documented prominently
• Competitors at lower prices are recommended when appropriate
• Safety ratings of 3.2/5 are published alongside 3.9/5 overall ratings
• Paid review treatment is refused

Methodology: about page. Disclosure terms: terms of service.

Frequently Asked Questions