Is Polybuzz Safe for Kids?

I’ve reviewed many apps for BrightCanary to find out if they’re safe for kids. Never have I been so shocked during the testing process as I was with Polybuzz. (I literally kept throwing my phone across my desk in disgust!)  

In this review, I’ll break down exactly why Polybuzz isn’t safe for kids, including wildly inappropriate content, weak age verification, and no parental controls. 

What is Polybuzz AI? 

Polybuzz is a chatbot that uses anime-inspired imagery and AI voices to let users create personalized role-plays. Users can generate their own AI chatbot through prompts and reference images or interact with bots created by others. The app was originally known as Poly.ai, but in January of this year, it was rebranded to Polybuzz. 

The options on Polybuzz are open-ended, allowing users to create an AI chatbot for many purposes, but it skews heavily toward relationship bots, romantic scenarios, and sexualized encounters. 

The review process

Here’s how I tested Polybuzz: 

• I created both an adult account and an account for a 14-year-old user so I could compare. 
• When creating the teen account, I used a Gmail address set to 10-years-old in order to further test the age-verification process. 

What’s the age rating for Polybuzz?

The age rating for Polybuzz varies depending on a user’s device. 

• Apple App Store: 18+ only 
• Google Play Store: Rated “T” for teens. 
• Web version: Although their terms of use state that users must be at least 14, an account can be created directly on the Polybuzz website with no age restrictions.  

This inconsistency allows underage users to easily create accounts through the website, even if they’re blocked on their phone.

Does Polybuzz have age verification? 

In short, no — not an effective one. 

While age verification is imperfect, it’s an important part of the puzzle for keeping kids safe online. That’s why at BrightCanary, we always look for strong age verification when reviewing an app's safety. 

Polybuzz falls far short on this measure. Here’s what I found: 

Polybuzz age verification on mobile devices

• Users are required to enter a birthdate, but it’s self-reported with no proof required.
• Users can edit their birthdate once. That means if you supervise your child when they create their account, they can then change their age in the app, but you can’t ever change it back again. 

Polybuzz age verification on web accounts 

• No age prompt at all. 
• Anyone of any age can create an account on the Polybuzz website. Web users aren’t even prompted to enter a date of birth. 

Does Polybuzz have a filter? 

In answering this question, I discovered a huge discrepancy between what the company says and what they actually do. 

Polybuzz’s official stance on filters

This is what Polybuzz’s website tells users:

• NSFW filters. According to their website, Polybuzz strictly prohibits any NSFW (not suitable for work) content in public areas of the site, such as the Explore tab. They say they use a combination of AI and human filtering and moderation to accomplish this. 
• Teen filters. Users have the option to select Pure Mode (referred to as Teen Mode in some of the company’s materials). For teen users, this mode is automatically turned on and can’t be disabled. Polybuzz asserts that Pure Mode ensures that content is “safe and appropriate” for children. 

What you’ll actually find on Polybuzz

Here’s just a sampling of what I found on the front page of my Explore tab the very first time I opened the app. Keep in mind, this was using my test account set to 14 years old with Pure Mode activated.

• A chatbot scenario with suggestive imagery, called “Enemies to Lovers, One Bed, Two Roommates.”
• A simulated school shooting lockdown. 
• An apparent incest-themed role play, titled “Daddy’s Little Toy.”

Does Polybuzz have parental controls? 

Polybuzz has zero parental controls. In fact, there are no user controls either, except for Pure Mode, which, as found in my testing, appears to do very little. 

Why Polybuzz is not safe for kids

Here’s a summary of the risks we uncovered during testing:

Risk	Description
Explicit sexual and violent content	Found on the Explore page even in “Teen Mode.”
Weak or nonexistent age verification	Kids can easily create accounts, even under 13.
No parental controls	Parents can’t monitor or restrict content.
Psychological impact	Disturbing or sexualized scenarios can harm young users’ emotional well-being.

What should I do if I’m worried about my child using Polybuzz?

If you’re worried about your child using Polybuzz or other chatbots, here are some steps you can take today: 

1. Talk to them about the dangers

Chatbots can seem like innocent fun to kids. Explain the risks and your concerns. 

2. Set parental controls on their devices

Make sure you have parental controls set on your child’s device through either Apple Family Sharing or Google Family Link, including setting their age and maturity level and requiring permission before they download new apps. 

This will minimize the chances they’ll be able to use chatbots on their mobile devices without you knowing. 

3. Use a monitoring app

BrightCanary shows you which apps your child uses and monitors what they type on their device. Our advanced AI alerts you if they type anything concerning, like a worrisome interaction with a chatbot. 

Final word: Is Polybuzz safe for kids? 

In case it isn’t crystal clear from my review, let me unequivocally state it here: Polybuzz is not safe for kids. 

All chatbots present measurable risks for kids, but with weak age verification, no parental controls, and filters that are so flimsy it’s unclear if they even exist, Polybuzz stands out as exceptionally unsafe. Parents should monitor their children’s online activity to make sure they aren’t using Polybuzz. 

BrightCanary helps you monitor your child’s activity online, including if they use chatbots like Polybuzz. Download today to get started for free.