Meta to Let Parents Block Teen Chats with AI Chatbots
Meta to Let Parents Block Teen Chats with AI Chatbots
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Parents will soon be able to restrict their children’s interactions with Meta’s AI chatbots, as the company introduces new safeguards for teen users, The Guardian reported. The social media giant said the update will allow parents to disable or limit their children’s conversations with AI characters across Facebook, Instagram, and the Meta AI app.
They will also have the option to block specific chatbots instead of all AI interactions. In addition, parents will gain access to “insights” showing the general topics their teens discuss with AI, helping them engage in more informed conversations about online safety.
Meta executives Adam Mosseri, head of Instagram, and Alexander Wang, chief AI officer, said the move aims to give families better tools to navigate technology responsibly. The new parental controls will roll out early next year in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.
Instagram also announced plans to introduce content controls similar to the PG-13 film rating system, restricting discussions about self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders. Teen users will be limited to age-appropriate topics like education and sports. The policy shift follows reports of inappropriate AI chatbot conversations with minors, prompting Meta to revise its safety guidelines and strengthen content moderation.
