Meta has announced new parental control features aimed at helping parents manage their teens’ interactions with AI characters on its platforms. These controls are set to launch in the coming year and are designed to give guardians more oversight into how their children engage with AI-driven content.
One of the key features will allow parents to completely disable chats between teens and AI characters. This option, however, does not include Meta AI, the company’s primary chatbot, which is programmed to only discuss topics suitable for younger users.
In addition to full chat restrictions, parents will have the flexibility to block individual AI characters. This selective control ensures that parents can fine-tune the experience based on their comfort level with specific characters or interactions.
Another new tool will provide parents with insight into the types of conversations teens are having with AI characters, including those with Meta AI. This transparency aims to help families better understand how teens are using the technology.
These parental tools are expected to first launch on Instagram early next year. At rollout, they will be available in English and accessible to users in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
In a public statement, Instagram’s head Adam Mosseri and Meta AI’s new leader Alexandr Wang emphasized the company’s commitment to making the internet safer for teens. They acknowledged the challenges parents face and stated that the new features are designed to make it easier for families to navigate emerging AI technologies.
As part of its broader safety initiative, Meta confirmed that its AI and content for teen users will align with PG-13 standards. This means avoiding topics such as graphic violence, nudity, and explicit drug use, in an effort to create a more age-appropriate environment.
Currently, teens can only interact with a limited group of AI characters that meet these guidelines. Parents can also impose time restrictions on these interactions. These updates come as social platforms respond to rising concerns about social media’s effects on youth mental health and legal actions linking AI to teen suicides.
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