Meta announced a new feature allowing parents to disable their teens’ private AI chats on Instagram. This step aims to increase safety after criticism over AI chatbot behavior. The company wants to prevent minors from engaging in inappropriate conversations with AI characters.
Earlier this week, Meta said it will guide its AI content for teens with a PG-13 movie rating. This is to keep inappropriate content away from minors. U.S. regulators are increasing scrutiny on AI companies due to potential chatbot harms. Meta had faced backlash for AI rules allowing flirty chats with teens.
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The new parental controls will launch early next year in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia. Parents can block specific AI characters and view general topics discussed, without disabling AI entirely. Meta’s AI assistant will still be available with age-appropriate limits even if chats are disabled.
Meta said its protections use AI to identify teens, even if users say they are adults. The company claims AI characters will avoid age-inappropriate topics like self-harm or suicide. These new tools build on Instagram’s existing teen safety features.
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Following safety concerns, other companies like OpenAI also introduced parental controls. Last month, OpenAI rolled out controls for ChatGPT after a tragic incident involving a teen. Meta’s move reflects growing efforts to protect young users from AI risks online.