AI companions are chatbots that talk like a person: a friend, a mentor or even a boyfriend or girlfriend. Apps like Character.AI, Replika and many smaller copies are popular with teenagers, precisely because the “character” is always available, always agrees and never gets tired.
Why parents are worried
- Dependence: some children talk to a character for hours a day, rather than to friends or family.
- Content: many characters are created by other users, and conversations can quickly turn sexual or dark.
- Advice: a chatbot is not a counsellor. Children who are struggling sometimes get harmful advice.
The United Nations’ children’s rights bodies warned in 2026 that the risks of AI for children are urgent. This is not about making children afraid of technology, but about knowing what happens on their phones.
Block AI companions, not everything
You do not have to ban all AI. With Die Ratel you choose:
- AI companions (Character.AI, Replika and similar services) blocked separately;
- Nudify and deepfake apps always blocked;
- General AI like ChatGPT or Gemini open for schoolwork, or also blocked for the younger ones.
Talk about it too
No filter replaces a conversation. Ask your child which apps their friends use, and explain why a chatbot is not a friend. The filter stops the worst; the conversation helps with the rest.
Die Ratel blocks AI companions and nudify apps on the home Wi-Fi and on the children’s phones. You set it up with our assistant, in Afrikaans or English, and the first 7 days are free.