Ava
Product by Social Cipher
The Bottom Line
Partially. While The Learning Standard has not yet formally evaluated Ava, its game-based environment offers a safe space for neurodiverse students to practice social-emotional skills. It leverages play-based scenarios to model interactions, though its reliance on simulation means real-world transfer requires active facilitation from educators or parents.
Pros
- Uses role-play mechanics to allow safe failure and repetition of complex social interactions.
- Models social-emotional scenarios through interactive gameplay rather than passive video consumption.
- Designed specifically around neurodivergent learning profiles to reduce the cognitive overload associated with traditional social-emotional instruction.
Cons
- Requires significant adult facilitation to ensure skills transfer from the game to real-world interactions.
- Lacks built-in spaced retrieval practice to reinforce social concepts over long-term intervals.
- Pricing structure is geared heavily toward institutional purchasing rather than individual families.
What Do We Know About Ava?
Ava provides an effective, low-stakes environment for neurodivergent middle-grade students to practice social-emotional skills, though it requires active adult involvement for real-world application. Your child will navigate narrative-driven scenarios that require them to make social decisions, see the consequences, and try again without the stress of real-world repercussions. This approach leverages experiential learning, which is critical for students who may struggle with abstract social concepts. Because the game acts as a simulator, your child can test boundaries and explore empathy in a structured way. However, parents and educators should understand that digital social-emotional learning rarely transfers automatically to physical environments. You must bridge the gap between the game's scenarios and your child's daily life by discussing the choices they make in the app. The program is currently awaiting formal evaluation by The Learning Standard, but its foundational use of cooperative and play-based learning aligns with established frameworks for neurodiverse education. It is best utilized as a supplementary tool alongside structured, real-world social coaching rather than a standalone curriculum.
How Does Ava Work?
Ava relies on game-based, narrative role-play to model social-emotional learning concepts for neurodivergent students. Your child assumes the role of a character navigating a science-fiction world, where they must solve problems by making social and emotional choices. The mechanics focus on experiential learning. Students encounter a scenario, choose a response, and immediately observe the narrative consequence of that choice. If a choice leads to a negative outcome, the game allows the student to rewind and attempt a different strategy. This promotes psychological safety and encourages learners to explore various social strategies without real-world anxiety. The platform also incorporates cooperative learning elements, providing discussion prompts that educators or parents can use to guide post-game reflections. By anchoring abstract social rules in concrete gameplay mechanics, the app attempts to reduce the cognitive load often required to process complex interpersonal dynamics.
Strengths and tradeoffs of Ava
Ava's biggest strength is its use of safe, simulated environments for social-emotional trial and error, while its biggest weakness is the inherent difficulty of transferring screen-based social skills to real-world interactions. Strengths: The app excels at providing a low-stakes platform for social modeling. By allowing students to make dialogue and action choices within a game, it uses experiential learning to demonstrate cause and effect in relationships. This is particularly effective for neurodivergent learners who benefit from explicit, visual representations of social dynamics. The ability to fail safely and retry scenarios builds competence without triggering anxiety. Weaknesses: Social-emotional learning relies heavily on context, body language, and unpredictable human variables that a digital game cannot fully replicate. Ava does not utilize formal spaced repetition or retrieval practice to ensure students remember the social rules they learn in the game. Furthermore, the skills acquired in the digital environment will likely remain siloed there unless an adult actively bridges the gap. Parents and teachers must facilitate discussions to connect the game's lessons to the student's actual life, making the app highly dependent on external instruction.
Who Might Benefit From Ava?
Ava is best for neurodivergent students in grades 4 through 9 who benefit from practicing social-emotional skills in a low-anxiety, digital environment. The narrative and gameplay mechanics are specifically tailored to middle-grade cognitive levels, making it ideal for late elementary and middle school classrooms or therapy settings. Because the pricing and structure are designed primarily for cohorts, it is an excellent fit for special education teachers, school counselors, or dedicated parents who are willing to use the game's cooperative learning prompts to facilitate deeper real-world discussions.
Data Transparency
Does Not Meet Data Transparency Standard
Ava does not meet our data transparency standard.
26 of 35 checks passed
Evaluated April 2026
View privacy policy →View all 35 checks
Parent Access8/8
Does the policy mention parents specifically?
“Our products can be signed up for by... parents for their children, including children under the age of 13”
Can parents view their child's data?
“You are encouraged to use this information to view your child’s progress at any time.”
Can parents modify their child's data?
“Parents have the right to request that we delete personal information or make changes to records at any time.”
Can parents delete their child's account?
“If you would like to delete your account (or that of your students or children)... please send an email to privacy@socialcipher.com”
Is there a dedicated Children's Privacy section?
“There is a dedicated section titled "Children’s Privacy and Parental Consent" and "Children's Privacy".”
Does it reference COPPA compliance?
“governed by the principles of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”)”
Does it reference FERPA compliance?
“maintain ownership of their Student Records (as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)).”
Is parental consent required for child accounts?
“We will obtain parental consent before collecting any Personal Information on our Services”
Data Portability2/5
Can users access their personal data?
“You may also access and correct some of your Personal Data by logging into your online account”
Can users download/export their data?
“The policy does not explicitly address user data export or download rights.”
Is there a self-service data access tool?
“Each educator has access to a dashboard that allows them to create, update, review, modify, and delete accounts.”
Is a specific data format mentioned for export?
“No specific data format (like CSV or JSON) is mentioned for data export.”
Is there an API for data access?
“The policy does not mention an API for accessing personal data.”
Data Minimization4/6
Is data collection itemized?
“we collect information that identifies you... such as your: ● Name... ● Email address... ● Payment information”
Can the app be used without a real name?
“Students are only identified by a nickname, first name, or student ID and then associated with the teacher”
Can the app be used without an email?
“Students are only identified by a nickname, first name, or student ID and then associated with the teacher”
Does it state collection is limited to what is necessary?
“We collect a bare minimum of personally identifiable information... as necessary for students to establish an account.”
Is IP address anonymized or truncated?
“The policy states they collect IP addresses but does not explicitly state that they are anonymized or truncated.”
Is location tracking explicitly excluded?
“The policy explicitly states they collect IP addresses "in order to provide more specific location-based services".”
Third-Party Protection5/7
Does it explicitly state no selling of data?
“No Sale of Personal Data: We will not sell your Personal Data to third parties, including third party advertisers.”
Are third-party providers named?
“The Social Cipher Subprocessor List identifies subprocessors... Brevo, Mixpanel, Inc, Amazon Web Services (AWS), Hubspot...”
Are providers contractually restricted?
“Third parties with whom we share your Personal Data have agreed to be bound to maintain and use it securely”
No-targeted-advertising commitment?
“The policy explicitly mentions delivering "online behavioral advertising that serves ads to you on our behalf on other sites".”
Is AI/ML data sharing addressed?
“The policy does not mention artificial intelligence (AI) or machine learning (ML) data sharing.”
Child-specific sharing restriction?
“Student Data is not shared with third parties for marketing or to serve ads to students.”
Cookies/tracking limited or opt-out?
“Many of the third party technologies that enable targeted banner advertising also allow you to opt out.”
Deletion & Retention5/5
Can users delete their account?
“If you would like to delete your account... please send an email to privacy@socialcipher.com”
Self-service deletion mechanism?
“Each educator has access to a dashboard that allows them to create, update, review, modify, and delete accounts.”
Specific data retention timeline?
“we may retain it for 5 years from the date we last received confirmation of your Personal Data.”
Auto-deletion of inactive accounts?
“We will delete an account and all content associated with the account if the account has not been accessed for more than 7 years.”
Post-deletion handling described?
“Even if we delete your Personal Data, it may persist on backup or archival media for 5 years.”
Advertising2/4
Advertising model explicitly disclosed?
“we may use third-party services and advertising networks, such as Google Display Network... to deliver online behavioral advertising”
Free from third-party advertisements?
“The policy explicitly states they use third-party advertising networks to deliver online behavioral advertising.”
Children excluded from ad targeting?
“Student Data is not shared with third parties for marketing or to serve ads to students.”
Ad-free option available?
“The policy does not mention an ad-free option or subscription.”
What This Means
The policy review did not meet our data transparency standard. The checks above show the documented findings and unknowns. A missing statement does not establish how the app handles data in practice.
About this evaluation: Based on automated analysis of Ava's privacy policy using the Common Sense Privacy Program framework. Results describe the policy disclosures we assessed; unknown checks are excluded from scores. Privacy policies can change. This review reflects the version we analyzed and does not determine legal compliance.
Sources and review method
TLS combines product information and editorial analysis to explain how Ava works, its tradeoffs, and the questions to ask before choosing it. Product features, an instructional rationale and evidence of learning outcomes are different kinds of information.
Formal Learning Standard assessment: not yet completed. Data Transparency findings are reported separately and do not establish learning effectiveness. Read our methodology.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ava
Is Ava evaluated by The Learning Standard?
Not yet. Ava is currently pending evaluation by The Learning Standard. Our team has not yet formally rated its learning efficacy against our rubrics. You can read more about how we rate educational tools in our [methodology](/methodology).
Is Ava free?
No, Ava is a paid platform. It costs between $5.00 and $6.00 per student per month, depending on the number of students enrolled. Annual billing options are also available at a slightly discounted rate.
Is Ava good for elementary students?
Ava is designed primarily for upper elementary and middle school students. The reading level, thematic elements, and social scenarios are optimized for children in grades 4 through 9. It may be too complex for early elementary students.
What does Ava teach?
Ava teaches social-emotional learning skills. The game focuses on concepts like empathy, emotional regulation, self-advocacy, and social problem-solving by placing students in narrative scenarios where they must navigate interpersonal challenges.
Is Ava safe for kids?
Yes, Ava provides a closed, secure environment. It does not feature open multiplayer chat rooms with strangers, focusing instead on single-player narrative choices and facilitated discussions with trusted adults or peers in a classroom setting.
Can a child use Ava entirely on their own?
While a child can physically play the game independently, the learning will not be fully effective without adult involvement. The app requires a parent or educator to facilitate discussions to ensure the social skills transfer to the real world.
Is Ava COPPA compliant?
The reviewed privacy policy references COPPA. A policy reference alone does not establish COPPA compliance. Policy review note: governed by the principles of the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (“COPPA”)
Is Ava FERPA compliant?
The reviewed privacy policy references FERPA. A policy reference alone does not establish FERPA compliance. Policy review note: maintain ownership of their Student Records (as defined in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)).
Does Ava have a children's privacy policy?
The reviewed policy includes a dedicated children's privacy section. Policy review note: There is a dedicated section titled "Children’s Privacy and Parental Consent" and "Children's Privacy".
Does Ava sell student data?
The reviewed policy states that the app does not sell data. This is a policy statement; actual data practices were not verified. Policy review note: No Sale of Personal Data: We will not sell your Personal Data to third parties, including third party advertisers.
Can you delete your data from Ava?
The reviewed privacy policy describes account deletion. We have not tested the deletion process. Policy review note: If you would like to delete your account... please send an email to privacy@socialcipher.com
Follow TLS Research
Subscribe to future TLS research updates: app reviews, findings, and what the evidence shows.
Screenshots
Take Action
For Ava
If you represent Social Cipher and have a correction or new evidence, send the relevant source so we can review and update this page.
Submit a correctionDetails
- Pricing
- 1-10 Students: USD $6/mo/student or $43/yr/student. 11-20 Students: USD $5.60/mo/student or $40/yr/student. 21+ Students: USD $5/mo/student or $36/yr/student.
- Platforms
- Web Browser, Android (Google mobile), Chrome OS (Google)
- Grade Levels
- 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade
- Website
- Visit site