TL;DR: "Immortality" is currently trending in two very different ways: as a high-concept, Mature-rated mystery game on Netflix and as a burgeoning AI industry focused on "digital twins" or "grief-tech." While the game is a masterpiece of storytelling, it is strictly for adults due to nudity and disturbing themes. Meanwhile, the ethics of AI "ghosts" are becoming a real conversation you need to have with your teens as they interact with Character.ai and other persona-driven bots.
Quick Links for the "Immortality" Deep Dive:
- The Game: Immortality (Netflix) – A brilliant, non-linear mystery (Ages 18+).
- The Tech: Character.ai – Where kids are already "talking" to historical figures and the deceased.
- The Predecessor: Her Story – Sam Barlow’s first FMV hit.
- The Discussion: How to talk to kids about AI ethics.
In the digital wellness world right now, "immortality" isn't just a philosophical concept; it’s a two-headed beast.
First, there is Immortality, a video game by Sam Barlow that has been making waves since it landed on the Netflix mobile app. It’s an interactive movie where you scrub through "lost" film footage to find out what happened to a missing actress. It’s "prestige TV" in game form.
Second, we are seeing the rise of Digital Immortality. This is the use of AI to create "ghost bots" or digital twins of people who have passed away—or even living people who want to preserve their "essence" for future generations. If your teen is spending time on TikTok or YouTube, they’ve likely seen AI-generated "interviews" with dead celebrities or heard about people "uploading" their consciousness.
Let’s get the "Should I let my kid play this?" question out of the way. No.
Sam Barlow is a genius of the FMV (Full Motion Video) genre. He previously gave us Her Story and Telling Lies, which were both fascinating police-procedural style mysteries. But Immortality is his most ambitious and most "adult" work yet.
The game asks you to sift through footage from three unreleased movies starring an actress named Marissa Marcel. As you click on objects—a face, a knife, a telephone—the game teleports you to a related scene in another film. It’s a hypnotic, "vibe-heavy" experience that feels like a David Lynch movie.
However, the game contains:
- Full frontal nudity and simulated sex: It’s not gratuitous "brain rot" content; it’s meant to depict the reality of film production in the 60s, 70s, and 90s. But it is very much there.
- Disturbing imagery: There are "hidden" layers to the footage that involve jump scares and unsettling, supernatural themes.
- Heavy themes: It explores the price of fame, exploitation, and the darker side of the human psyche.
If you’re looking for a game to play after the kids are in bed that will actually make you think, this is it. If your 14-year-old asks to play it because they saw it on the Netflix menu, steer them toward The Queen's Gambit Chess or Oxenfree instead.
Ask our chatbot for more mature-rated games that are actually worth your time
While the game is a contained piece of media, the concept of digital immortality is leaking into our kids' daily lives through AI.
We are currently seeing a massive spike in teens using Character.ai. About 20% of high schoolers have reported using AI chatbots not just for homework, but for "companionship." On these platforms, users create bots that mimic anyone—from Harry Potter to deceased historical figures like Albert Einstein or even "ghost" versions of people's real-life exes or late relatives.
The "Grief-Tech" Boom
There are now companies like HereAfter AI and StoryFile that allow people to record hours of interviews so their "digital twin" can talk to their grandkids one day. To some, this is a beautiful way to preserve legacy. To others, it’s a "Black Mirror" episode waiting to happen (specifically the episode Be Right Back).
Why Kids Are Into It
Kids today don't see the "uncanny valley" the way we do. To them, an AI version of a person is just another interface. They use these tools to:
- Roleplay: Interacting with a "living" version of a fictional character.
- Curiosity: Asking "what would George Washington think of the iPhone?"
- Emotional Processing: Sometimes, unfortunately, trying to find closure by talking to a bot programmed to sound like someone they miss.
Ages 10-13 (Middle School)
At this age, the concept of "immortality" usually comes up through mythology or fantasy books like Percy Jackson.
- The Conversation: Focus on the difference between a person and a "program." If they see an AI "ghost" on YouTube, explain that it’s just a very smart autocomplete, not the person’s soul or thoughts.
- Recommendation: Mythic Ocean is a great game for this age that explores philosophy and talking to "gods" without the mature content of Sam Barlow’s games.
Ages 14-18 (High School)
Teens are more likely to encounter the ethics of digital twins on social media.
- The Conversation: Discuss the ethics of consent. Is it okay to make an AI of someone after they die if they didn't say yes? This is a great "dinner table" topic that hits on privacy, technology, and empathy.
- The Game: Still skip Immortality unless you’ve vetted it and feel they are ready for very "adult" indie cinema vibes. Instead, suggest Before Your Eyes—a beautiful, emotional game about life and legacy that uses your webcam to track your blinking.
When it comes to the "immortality" tech (AI twins), there are a few things to watch out for:
- Emotional Dependency: If a child is talking to an AI "ghost" of a loved one instead of processing grief with real humans, that’s a red flag. AI doesn’t have empathy; it has patterns.
- Privacy Drains: To make a "digital twin," you have to feed an app massive amounts of personal data—voice recordings, photos, texts. These companies aren't always clear about who owns that "soul" once the subscription ends.
- The "Deadbot" Trap: AI can hallucinate. An AI version of a grandma might say something grandma would never say, which can be confusing or traumatic for a child.
Learn more about the privacy risks of AI chatbots
If you want to have a real, non-cringe conversation about digital immortality, try these openers:
- "I saw this weird game on Netflix called Immortality that’s basically an interactive R-rated movie. Have you seen people talking about those 'AI ghosts' on TikTok lately?"
- "If you could have an AI version of your great-grandpa to ask questions to, would you want that? Or does it feel a little 'Ohio' (weird/cringe)?"
- "Do you think an AI can ever actually 'be' a person, or is it just a really good impression?"
The game Immortality is a brilliant piece of art for adults, but it’s a "hard pass" for kids. However, the idea of immortality is no longer science fiction. Our kids are the first generation that will have to decide where the human ends and the code begins.
By staying informed about the apps they’re using—like Character.ai—and the games appearing on platforms they already have (like Netflix), you can help them navigate these "ghostly" waters without getting haunted.
Next Steps:
- Check your Netflix settings: Ensure your kids' profiles have maturity ratings set so they don't accidentally stumble into Immortality.
- Explore legacy together: Instead of an AI ghost, try a "low-tech" version of immortality. Use an app like StoryCorps to record a real interview with a grandparent.
- Watch a "safe" version: If you want to explore these themes with your teens, watch The Good Place together. It’s funny, brilliant, and handles the "afterlife/eternity" question with way more heart and age-appropriateness.
Check out our full guide on AI companions and digital wellness