---
title: "Chat With Santa Safely: Parent Checklist for AI Apps"
description: "Chat with Santa safely: 8 questions to ask any AI Santa app about who types, who reads, what data it keeps and what it costs, plus a 10-minute test run."
url: "https://santawishlist.app/blog/chat-with-santa"
author: "Joey Bolohan"
published: "2026-10-25"
updated: "2026-10-25"
---

# Chat With Santa Safely: A Parent's Checklist for AI Santa Apps

Letting your kid chat with Santa can be the best five minutes of their December, as long as you know who (or what) is answering. Most Santa apps are fine. A few are not. This checklist helps you tell the difference in about ten minutes, before your child ever types "Hi Santa."

## TL;DR

- "Chat with Santa" can mean a pre-made video, a live AI Santa, a general AI assistant in a Santa voice, or real NORAD volunteers on Christmas Eve. Each has different risks.
- Ask eight questions: who types, who reads, can a stranger reply, does it say it is AI, what does it ask, what does it keep, what does it cost, and how do you report a problem.
- Do a 10-minute test run yourself first. That is the advice an FTC attorney gave parents about Santa apps.
- Red flags: no privacy policy, questions about school or what your child looks like, open chat with no filters, and a "free" app full of ads.
- If a reply ever feels wrong: screenshot it, call local police first, then report the app to the FTC and the app store.

## Why parents need a chat with Santa checklist: the 2019 Santa app case

A chat with Santa checklist exists because of what happened in July 2019. An 8-year-old girl in Dallas, North Carolina sent "Hey" and a heart to an app called "Santa Call & Text You." The reply was "What are you wearing?" The app had a cheerful name and looked like every other Santa app in the store. Nothing on the listing warned her parents.

Her father took the phone and kept chatting as his daughter. When Dallas police texted the account and said the child was 8, "Santa" wrote back "well you're too young for me." Her mom, Ashley Adams, told [WCCB Charlotte (2019)](https://www.wccbcharlotte.com/2019/07/21/gaston-co-mom-warns-parents-about-santa-call-text-you-app/) that the person behind the app may have been in another country. Her daughter was left afraid of Santa.

**8**: Average age a child stops believing in Santa, from a University of Exeter survey of about 1,200 people (2018)

According to a [University of Exeter survey (2018)](https://news-archive.exeter.ac.uk/2018/december/title_697103_en.html), kids stop believing in Santa at 8 on average. So the children most likely to trust whatever "Santa" types are exactly the ones who still believe. If yours is starting to wonder, here is how to handle [the "Is Santa real?" question](/blog/is-santa-real). The good news: almost everything that went wrong in 2019 is easy to spot if a parent looks first.

## The four kinds of chat with Santa apps, compared

Chat with Santa apps come in four kinds, and each one carries a different risk. Some send a pre-made video personalized with your child's name. Some run a live AI Santa that answers in real time. A general AI assistant can put on a Santa voice. And on Christmas Eve, real human volunteers answer the phone at NORAD.

| Type | Example | Who is "Santa"? | What to watch |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Pre-made personalized video | Most of Portable North Pole (PNP) | A recorded video with details you provide | Low risk. Check what personal details and photos you upload. |
| Live AI Santa (text, voice or video) | Tavus AI Santa; PNP's Talk to Santa | An AI that answers in real time | Memory, data kept, time limits, whether it says it is AI |
| General AI assistant with a Santa voice | ChatGPT's Santa voice (added December 2024) | An adult AI assistant in costume | The main app's age rules; your child is inside a full AI tool |
| Real people | NORAD Tracks Santa phone line | Human volunteers | Only open on December 24 |

### What each kind of chat means for your child

- Portable North Pole is mostly not AI. Its site says most videos are pre-made and personalized, and that "a few experiences are AI-powered, though: Write Your Own Topic Calls, Stories, and Talk to Santa," which run on paid AI Credits ([PNP](https://www.portablenorthpole.com/)). Talk to Santa, its live voice call, launched November 17, 2025 ([Fox 9](https://www.fox9.com/news/talk-santa-app-lets-kids-speak-directly-santa-real-time)).
- Tavus AI Santa can see and remember. TechCrunch reported in December 2025 that it reads facial expressions and gestures, remembers past chats, and can search the web for gift ideas ([TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/10/ai-startup-tavus-founder-says-users-talk-to-its-ai-santa-for-hours-per-day/)).
- ChatGPT's Santa voice forgets on purpose. OpenAI said Santa chats "won't be saved in chat history or affect memory" ([TechCrunch, 2024](https://techcrunch.com/2024/12/12/you-can-make-chatgpt-sound-like-santa-claus-for-the-holidays/)). ChatGPT itself is not built for young kids, so check OpenAI's current age rules before you hand it over.
- NORAD is real people. On Christmas Eve 2025, volunteers answered 1-877-HI-NORAD from 4 a.m. to midnight Mountain time. ABC7 reported more than 1,000 volunteers and about 380,000 calls on Christmas Eve 2024 ([ABC7 NY](https://abc7ny.com/post/how-newspaper-misprint-turned-norads-santa-tracker/18306559/)). Check NORAD's site for this year's hours.

For a side by side look at specific apps, see our [roundup of the best Santa apps](/blog/best-santa-apps), or browse every way to text and write to Santa in the [Santa chat hub](/santa-chat).

## The 8-question chat with Santa checklist for parents

The chat with Santa checklist comes down to eight questions: who types, who reads, whether a stranger can reply, whether the app says it is AI, what it asks your child, what it keeps, what it costs, and how you report a problem. Go through them with the app open. If the store listing, the app or the privacy policy has no answer, count it as a no.

| Question | Good answer | Red flag |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1. Who types? | You hold the phone, or you see every message as it is sent | Built for a child alone, with their own account and no parent view |
| 2. Who reads the messages? | The app says plainly whether replies come from a recording, AI or staff | It never says. The 2019 app looked automated and was not. |
| 3. Can a stranger reply? | No open chat, no other users, filters described | Free-text chat with an unknown company and no contact details |
| 4. Does it say it is AI? | At least the parent is told plainly that replies are AI-generated | You cannot tell whether a person, a recording or an AI is answering |
| 5. What does it ask your child? | First name and age at most, both optional | School, address, eye color, face photos |
| 6. What does it keep? | A privacy policy you can find in a minute, with a way to delete data | No privacy policy at all |
| 7. What does it cost? | A clear free amount, then clear prices in dollars | Hidden in-app purchases, auto-renewing plans, a "free" app full of ads |
| 8. How do you report a problem? | A support email or report button and a real company name | No contact details, or a developer you cannot find anywhere |

> **What a good answer sounds like**
>
> Portable North Pole says any story or conversation "can be read and approved by a parent before your child ever sees it" ([PNP](https://www.portablenorthpole.com/)). PNP also says its free trial video data is deleted every year. On memory, check whether the AI Santa remembers past chats. Tavus's does, which feels magical but means your child's words are stored somewhere.

### Time limits and long chats

Watch time limits too. Tavus's CEO told TechCrunch in 2025 that many users chat "for hours" and hit daily limits on the free tier. A long AI conversation with no stop point is worth thinking about, even when it costs nothing.

**See how Santa Wishlist answers all eight questions, from filters to photo deletion.** [Read the Santa Wishlist safety page](/safety)

## How to test an AI Santa app in 10 minutes

Testing an AI Santa app yourself takes about 10 minutes, and it is the FTC's own advice. FTC attorney Fil de Banate told [19 News Cleveland (2019)](https://www.cleveland19.com/2019/12/21/security-experts-warn-parents-santa-texting-apps/): "Do a test run. Figure out what is being said, how your kids might interact with the website or the app." Do it tonight, after bedtime, before your child ever types "Hi Santa."

1. **Read the listing and privacy policy (3 minutes)**: Find who makes the app, what it collects, and what it costs.
2. **Send a normal kid message**: Try "Hi Santa, I want a red bike." Does the reply make sense for a young child?
3. **Send a personal question**: Try "Where do you live? Where do I live?" A good app never asks for your address or school.
4. **Send something silly or rude**: Type what a 7-year-old might. The reply should stay kind and on track.
5. **Ask "Are you real?"**: Note the answer and decide if you are comfortable with it.
6. **Check the settings**: Look for memory, data deletion, ads, and a password for purchases so your child cannot buy more Santa time alone.
7. **Decide**: Use it with you holding the phone, let your child use it alone, or delete it.

If anything in the test feels off, trust that feeling and delete the app. There are plenty of other Santas, including a plain old [letter to Santa written online](/blog/letter-to-santa-online).

## What COPPA and California's AI law cover for Santa apps

COPPA and California's SB 243 give parents real protections, but neither one replaces a test run. COPPA requires covered apps to get a parent's permission before collecting personal information from a child under 13. SB 243 adds AI disclosure rules for companion apps. An app sitting in the store today is still not proof that it follows either law.

- COPPA basics: photos, video and audio with a child's image or voice count as personal information. In 2019, FTC attorney Fil de Banate told [19 News Cleveland](https://www.cleveland19.com/2019/12/21/security-experts-warn-parents-santa-texting-apps/) that a virtual Santa asking for a child's personal information "could be violating" the law, after parents reported apps asking for eye color and school names.
- The 2025 COPPA update: published April 22, 2025, with full compliance due by April 22, 2026. It requires separate parent permission before a child's data goes to third parties, and limits how long companies can keep it ([Federal Register](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2025-04-22/html/2025-05904.htm), [FTC](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/01/ftc-finalizes-changes-childrens-privacy-rule-limiting-companies-ability-monetize-kids-data)).
- California SB 243: in effect since January 1, 2026. AI companion apps that meet its definition must make clear the user is talking to AI, remind minors to take breaks, and keep sexual content away from minors ([TechCrunch](https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/13/california-becomes-first-state-to-regulate-ai-companion-chat programs/)). Not every Santa app meets that definition.
- The FTC study: in September 2025 the FTC ordered seven companies, including Alphabet, Character.AI, Meta, OpenAI, Snap and xAI, to explain how they protect kids. It is a study, not a penalty ([FTC](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/09/ftc-launches-inquiry-ai-chat programs-acting-companions)).

> It is important to consider the effects chat programs can have on children.
>
> Source: FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, September 2025

## What to do if a Santa app sends a reply that feels wrong

If a Santa app sends a reply that feels wrong, save the evidence, call local police first, then report the app to the FTC and the app store. Security experts quoted by [19 News Cleveland (2019)](https://www.cleveland19.com/2019/12/21/security-experts-warn-parents-santa-texting-apps/) advised going to police first. In the North Carolina case, Dallas police were the ones who confirmed a real person was on the other end.

1. Take screenshots of the messages, with the app name visible.
2. Call your local police and share the screenshots.
3. Report the app to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and to the Better Business Bureau.
4. Report it in the App Store or Google Play so it gets reviewed.
5. Delete the app only after you have saved everything.

> **What to tell your child**
>
> Keep it calm and simple: "That wasn't really Santa. Someone was pretending, and you did the right thing by showing me." Then let them know the real Santa is still on the job.

## How Santa Wishlist answers the chat with Santa checklist

To chat with Santa in Santa Wishlist, a Santa chat app built for the toy aisle moment, you start when your kid points and says "I want THAT." The parent snaps a photo or types a message and sends it to Santa, and Santa writes back in character within seconds. The elves quietly add the item to a hidden gift list that only you can open, behind your PIN or Face ID.

| Question | Santa Wishlist's answer |
| --- | --- |
| Who types? | The parent holds the phone and sends every message. |
| Who reads? | Santa's replies are generated by AI. Santa Wishlist says so plainly on its site. Santa himself stays in character. |
| Can a stranger reply? | No. No open chat, no other users, no ads. |
| Filters? | Every message is checked both ways by automated filters. |
| What does it ask? | Your child's first name and age, both optional, so Santa can match the reply to their age. |
| What does it keep? | Photos stay private and are deleted with your account. |
| What does it cost? | First 10 messages free. Candy Cane packs: 25 for $2.99, 60 for $4.99, 150 for $9.99. Or the Whole Season Pass for $19.99: 1,200 messages to use any time until Dec 31. No subscriptions, no renewals. |
| Who makes it? | The company behind Santa Wishlist, which is named on its App Store and Google Play listings. |

What Santa Wishlist is not: it is text and photos only, with no voice or video calls, and it is not a Santa tracker. It launches on the App Store and Google Play in mid November 2026. Full details are on the [pricing page](/pricing).

**See how a Santa chat works when the parent holds the phone.** [Get Santa Wishlist](/get)

## FAQ

### How do you chat with Santa?

Pick the kind of chat first. For a recorded video, use a personalized video service. For a live back and forth, use an AI Santa app or a Santa voice in a general AI assistant. On Christmas Eve, you can call NORAD's volunteers at 1-877-HI-NORAD. Whatever you choose, do a short test run yourself before your child uses it.

Source: [ABC7 NY: NORAD Tracks Santa volunteers](https://abc7ny.com/post/how-newspaper-misprint-turned-norads-santa-tracker/18306559/)

### Is chat with Santa free?

Usually only partly. Tavus has a free tier with daily limits. Portable North Pole has a free app and a free trial video, but its AI features use paid AI Credits. NORAD's Christmas Eve phone line is free. Santa Wishlist gives you 10 free messages, then optional Candy Cane packs from $2.99 to $9.99 or a $19.99 season pass.

Source: [Portable North Pole](https://www.portablenorthpole.com/)

### Is Portable North Pole AI?

Mostly not. Most Portable North Pole videos are pre-made and personalized with details you provide, like your child's name. Only a few features are AI-powered: Write Your Own Topic Calls, Stories and Talk to Santa, which run on paid AI Credits.

Source: [Portable North Pole](https://www.portablenorthpole.com/)

### Can Santa call my child?

Yes, with some services. Portable North Pole offers recorded calls and a live AI voice call called Talk to Santa. On Christmas Eve, your child can call NORAD at 1-877-HI-NORAD and talk to a real volunteer. Santa Wishlist does not do calls; it is text and photos only.

Source: [Fox 9: Talk to Santa app](https://www.fox9.com/news/talk-santa-app-lets-kids-speak-directly-santa-real-time)

### Do AI Santa apps tell kids they are AI?

Some do and some do not. Tavus's Santa told TechCrunch he is "an AI Santa" when asked directly. Others keep Santa in character and tell the parent instead. Since January 1, 2026, California requires AI companion apps that meet its definition to make clear the user is talking to AI. Check the store listing and the app's own disclosure before you start.

Source: [TechCrunch: California regulates AI companion apps](https://techcrunch.com/2025/10/13/california-becomes-first-state-to-regulate-ai-companion-chat programs/)

### Does an AI Santa remember what my child said?

Whether an AI Santa remembers what your child said depends on the app. Tavus's AI Santa remembers past conversations. ChatGPT's Santa voice chats are not saved to chat history or memory. Look for "memory" or "data deletion" in the app's settings or privacy policy, and ask for deletion when the season is over.

Source: [TechCrunch: Tavus AI Santa](https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/10/ai-startup-tavus-founder-says-users-talk-to-its-ai-santa-for-hours-per-day/)

### What should I do if a Santa app sends my child a creepy message?

Take screenshots with the app name showing, then call your local police first. After that, report the app to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, to the Better Business Bureau, and in the app store. Tell your child calmly that it was not really Santa and that showing you was the right thing to do.

Source: [19 News Cleveland: experts warn about Santa texting apps](https://www.cleveland19.com/2019/12/21/security-experts-warn-parents-santa-texting-apps/)

## Further reading

- [WCCB Charlotte: Gaston County mom warns parents about Santa Call & Text You app (2019)](https://www.wccbcharlotte.com/2019/07/21/gaston-co-mom-warns-parents-about-santa-call-text-you-app/)
- [19 News Cleveland: Security experts warn parents about Santa texting apps (2019)](https://www.cleveland19.com/2019/12/21/security-experts-warn-parents-santa-texting-apps/)
- [TechCrunch: Tavus founder says users talk to its AI Santa for hours per day (2025)](https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/10/ai-startup-tavus-founder-says-users-talk-to-its-ai-santa-for-hours-per-day/)
- [FTC: Final changes to the children's privacy rule (2025)](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/01/ftc-finalizes-changes-childrens-privacy-rule-limiting-companies-ability-monetize-kids-data)
- [FTC: Inquiry into AI companions and kids (2025)](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/09/ftc-launches-inquiry-ai-chat programs-acting-companions)