Penka Hristovska
Published on: April 20, 2025
Fact-checked by Eric Goldstein
Akinator is a safe game for kids, but it’s not recommended for kids younger than 12. The online app asks kids questions and tries to guess who the kid is thinking of, which opens some potential pitfalls. For example, it runs on a large database of characters from various media, and not all are kid-friendly — so some younger kids might find questions and answers uncomfortable or inappropriate.
A parental control app is the best way to increase your child’s safety on Akinator. My No. 1 recommendation is Qustodio because it lets you limit exactly how long your kid can spend on Akinator every day, and at what times of day they can play it. That said, there are other steps you can take to further improve your kid’s experience on Akinator.
What Are the Risks of Akinator?
Akinator is generally safe for children, but parents should remain cautious. While it lacks many common gaming risks, there are still a few concerns to be aware of:
- Adult content. Akinator has a vast database of characters, including fictional and real people. Since it doesn’t restrict the pool to kid-friendly options, it may occasionally ask questions that aren’t suitable for children.
- Gaming addiction. The nature of the game is fun and addictive. Kids can spend long periods trying to think of obscure characters, which can lead to issues like sleep neglect or lack of focus.
- Privacy concerns. Akinator doesn’t require an account, but some of its data collection policies are questionable. For example, its Privacy Policy mentions collecting browsing data via cookies, though it’s not clear on the specifics. Also, it shares data with third-party advertisers.
- Annoying ads. Akinator often includes banners and full-screen ads during games. While most of the full-screen ads are for mobile games, sometimes they’re for online stores like Temu, which often have content that might be unsuitable for children.
- Overspending on in-game currency. Akinator has an in-game currency, Geniz, for purchasing cosmetic upgrades. While your child can earn Geniz through gameplay, the app also offers large amounts for a small fee, making it a tempting option.
What Age Is Akinator Appropriate For?
Akinator is generally suitable for kids aged 12 and above. It’s mostly family-friendly, but some references to pop culture, movies, or historical figures may be unfamiliar to younger kids. This is why I recommend playing with them for oversight if they’re very young.
Additionally, since Akinator relies on user-submitted content, some mature themes might appear. The good news is that there’s a filter to remove inappropriate material.
Both the Apple App Store and the Google Play App Store give Akinator a 12+ rating, citing risks such as in-app purchases and potential suggestive or mature content. The ratings in the app stores serve as general guidance — after all, you know best how mature your child is.
How to Keep Your Kids Safe on Akinator
Akinator can be a very entertaining pastime for your child, but you’ll have to take some steps to ensure they’ll remain safe and won’t be exposed to problematic content. Fortunately, with the right tools and adequate practices in place, both younger and older children can have a safe and fun experience playing Akinator.
1. Install a Good Quality Parental Control App
High-quality parental control apps like Qustodio help you manage and monitor your child’s use of Akinator, giving you control over their gaming experience to ensure it fits your family’s rules and safety standards. Here’s what you get:
- Screen time management. Set daily playtime limits for Akinator. With Qustodio, you can also block or allow access for the entire day with just a few taps.
- Daily schedules. Create a timetable to limit when your child can use their device for Akinator, ensuring it doesn’t interfere with school, study time, or bedtime.
- Activity reports. Receive detailed reports on how much time your child spends on Akinator and when, so you can track if they’re prioritizing gaming over studying or sleep.
2. Use Akinator’s Sensitive Content Filter
The only form of content regulation Akinator has is a sensitive content filter. Turning this filter on removes characters and questions that have to do with adult content from the choice pool.
Here’s how to switch it on:
On Desktop
It’s super simple — when you open the Akinator site, click on the Sensitive content filter switch in the bottom left corner. That’s it!
On Mobile
- Launch the Akinator app & tap the gear icon to access Settings.
- Under Settings, tap Sensitive content filter.
- Next to the option that says “Activate the sensitive content filter”, toggle the switch on.
3. Show Your Kid How to Report Sensitive Content
Even with the sensitive content filter on, some adult themes might still appear in questions or Akinator’s results. Akinator allows you to report any inappropriate content through the mobile apps, but not on the desktop website. Here’s how to do it:
- Tap the gear icon in the upper left corner.
- In the Settings section, tap Sensitive content filter.
- Tap Report inappropriate content.
- Here, you can write a brief description of what your child saw on the app. Then, just tap Send to complete the report.
4. Make Sure Your Child Can’t Overspend on Akinator
Akinator’s mobile apps have some in-app purchases available, mostly focused around buying more Geniz, the in-game currency your child can use for cosmetic upgrades. While the option to remove all the annoying ads is a sound purchase, there’s no need to pay for anything else.
If your child’s smartphone has access to a payment method, like a debit card, you can easily remove it to stop your child from overspending on Akinator. The steps differ depending on what platform your kid uses to play Akinator (the desktop website doesn’t have any purchases):
Akinator for Android
You can do this either on the phone or on a desktop computer — the process is the same.
- Open a browser.
- Go to payments.google.com.
- If prompted, log into the account associated with the smartphone your kid uses for Akinator.
- Go to the Payment methods tab.
- If there are any cards attached to the account, click Remove next to each one.
- Confirm the choice.
Akinator for iOS
- Open the Settings app.
- Tap your or your child’s name, whichever is the active profile on the smartphone.
- Tap Payment & Shipping.
- Tap Edit, then tap the red Delete button, and then tap Remove.
5. Offer to Play Akinator With Your Kid
If your child is young, the best way to maintain oversight is by playing Akinator together — it’s fun to come up with increasingly obscure characters.
You can also turn it into a learning opportunity by explaining how Akinator uses deductive reasoning to guess the character. Additionally, Akinator can spark interest in books, movies, or shows your child might not normally explore, especially older media that’s no longer popular.
Is Akinator Secretly Listening to You?
No, Akinator isn’t listening to you. Many people believe the game uses your device’s microphone to make guesses, but it’s just a well-designed game.
Occasionally, it might guess correctly without asking questions that seem related, but that’s simply due to its vast database and clever algorithms. Every question you answer, even seemingly irrelevant ones, helps the game make better guesses.
If you check the app’s permissions, you’ll see it doesn’t require microphone access. All player inputs are made through taps, clicks, or typing, and voice input is only converted to text in real time, without sending your speech to Akinator unless it’s typed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I let my child play Akinator?
The game is recommended for ages 12 and up. Akinator can be a fun and even educational game, helping your child develop deductive reasoning. However, it’s not without its downsides — your child might spend too much time on it, get frustrated, or be exposed to inapropriate questions and answers. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to make your child’s experience on Akinator safe.
Is Akinator okay for a 10-year-old kid?
Yes, Akinator is generally safe for 10-year-olds, but be sure to activate the sensitive content filter — this is why the game is rated for kids 12-plus. The filter will prevent inappropriate questions and guesses from appearing. However, there are some risks you should keep in mind.
I recommend playing alongside your younger child for the first couple of times so you can properly explain some confusing or unusual questions. This way, you can help your kid remain calm if Akinator’s accuracy frustrates or confuses them.
Is there adult content on Akinator?
Yes, but you can avoid it. Akinator’s database is very large and relies on user submissions, so it can ask questions about characters that may not be suitable for children.
Fortunately, both the website and the mobile app have a sensitive content filter that prevents such questions and character guesses from appearing. It’s very easy to set up, and there’s a useful reporting feature if anything inappropriate slips through and appears despite the filter.
Is there in-game communication in Akinator?
No, there isn’t — Akinator is a single-player game. While the mobile app can show some other players in scoreboards and daily rankings, there isn’t a way to communicate with anyone. That makes Akinator somewhat safer than multiplayer games because there’s no way to use the game for bullying or harassment. However, Akinator has other risks that you as a parent need to be aware of, such as potentially mature content.
