Meta Unveils Parental Controls for Teen AI Interactions

Meta announced plans to introduce comprehensive parental controls on its platforms early next year, targeting teens’ interactions with AI chatbots. Parents will be empowered to disable specific AI character chats or block all one-on-one AI interactions for their teens while keeping Meta’s core AI assistant available with strict age-appropriate protections.

The new tools also provide parents with reports on conversation topics without revealing full chats, striking a balance between safety and privacy. Instagram teen accounts will default to PG-13 content, restricting exposure to harmful material unless parental consent is granted.

These initiatives come amid rising concerns about AI’s mental health impact on young users and following lawsuits against AI platforms linked to teen suicides. Meta aims to lead industry efforts in teen safety by enhancing parental oversight while continuing to offer valuable AI interactions to younger users.