StoryBox is a storytelling app for children, built with safety as a priority. This page explains how Yarny works, how we respond if a child shows signs of distress, and where to find help. We publish this protocol in line with California's companion-chatbot law (SB 243).

Yarny is AI
Yarny is an artificial-intelligence character — a computer program, not a real person, and it does not have real feelings. We make this clear to children when they start, and, for younger users, we periodically remind them that Yarny is AI.

If a child shows signs of distress
Our protocol is designed to prevent Yarny from producing content related to suicidal ideation, suicide, or self-harm, and to respond supportively if a child expresses distress. If our system detects that a user may be expressing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, Yarny pauses the story and shows a message that gently encourages the child to talk to a trusted adult and provides the crisis resources below. For child profiles, we also notify the parent about the event by email (category and time only — we do not store transcripts of what the child said) and direct the parent to the crisis resources, including the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Yarny does not act as a counselor and does not continue a story on these themes.

Crisis resources (United States)
If you or your child needs help now:
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — call or text 988 (available 24/7)
Crisis Text Line — text HOME to 741741
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.

Break reminders
For users we know to be minors, StoryBox shows a reminder at least every three hours of continuous use to take a break, and reminds them that Yarny is AI.

Suitability
AI companion features may not be suitable for some minors. Parents decide whether StoryBox is appropriate for their child and control access through the parent account.

How we prevent harmful content
We use content safeguards and evidence-based methods to detect and avoid generating content related to suicidal ideation, suicide, self-harm, or sexually explicit material, with particular protections for children. These safeguards take priority over story personalization — they cannot be overridden by a child's preferences or settings.

Child Safety Standards
StoryBox has zero tolerance for child sexual abuse and exploitation (CSAE). Content or behavior that sexualizes, exploits, or endangers children is strictly prohibited anywhere in the Service — in generated stories and illustrations, in the shared story library, and in any interaction with our team.
How we enforce this. Every story passes automated safety filters both during creation and again before anything can appear in the shared library; flagged content goes to human review, is removed when it violates these standards, and the associated account may be suspended or terminated. Publication of any story is off by default and can only be enabled by a verified parent.
If we obtain actual knowledge of child sexual abuse material (CSAM) in the Service, we act immediately: the material is removed from public access and from the Service, preserved as required by law, and reported to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) in accordance with U.S. law.
How to report a concern. Use the "Report" button available on every published story, or write to hello@storybox.now. Reports are reviewed within 24 hours. Our designated child-safety contact: hello@storybox.now.

For parents
You manage your child's experience through Parent Controls in the StoryBox app, where you can review what we've collected, delete content, and withdraw permission at any time. If you have a safety concern, contact us at hello@storybox.now.

Annual reporting
Beginning July 1, 2027, we will report annually to the California Office of Suicide Prevention on crisis-service referrals and our safety protocols, as required by SB 243.
StoryBox — Evgeny Gortsev · hello@storybox.now