App & tool guide · AI companions & chatbots

Replika

This app offers an AI companion or open-ended chatbot a child can confide in — the pattern that warrants the closest parental attention.

ParentMode's take

16+ with active parent awareness; not recommended under 16

Replika is designed as an AI companion that learns and adapts to individual users over time, which can foster parasocial attachment—especially in younger teens navigating identity. The 17+ rating reflects conversation depth and potential for romantic/intimate roleplay features, but developmental readiness matters more than the label alone.

On the App Store

Apple age rating
17+
Developer
Luka, Inc.
Category
Health & Fitness
Average rating
4.4 ★
Last updated
2026-06-30

Apple content advisories

  • Infrequent/Mild Profanity or Crude Humor

Source: Apple App Store, retrieved 2026-07-06. View the current listing →

What a parent can do

Data & privacy

Check the app's privacy label on the App Store; assume conversations are used to train the AI and review what data Replika retains about your teen.

Controls

Use device-level parental controls (Screen Time on iOS, Family Link on Android) to set app limits, and review Replika's in-app safety and notification settings together.

A cautious next step

If your teen needs emotional support, pairing any AI companion use with access to human connection—friends, family, school counselor, or therapist—is important.

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The age rating, developer, and advisories above are Apple App Store facts. The guidance is ParentMode's own protective, conservative editorial — general parenting guidance, not clinical, legal, or diagnostic advice, and not an endorsement or a warning from Apple or Luka, Inc.. Apps change; always check the current listing.