Meta has released a new set of parental control tools aimed at monitoring and managing teen conversations with AI characters on its platforms.
The features will begin rolling out early next year, starting with Instagram, in several English-speaking countries.
Parents will soon have more control over how their teens engage with AI characters. They will be able to block conversations with specific characters or turn off all character chats entirely.
However, this restriction will not apply to Meta AI, the company’s general-purpose chatbot. Meta AI is designed to discuss only age-appropriate topics, ensuring a safer environment for teens.
This tiered system allows parents to decide which interactions are acceptable and which are not.
Teen Chats
Meta’s new tools also focus on transparency. Parents will receive summaries of the topics their teens discuss with Meta AI and other characters.
They will not see full conversation logs. Instead, they will get topic overviews that help them understand the nature of these chats.
This approach aims to build trust while keeping parents informed. Meta says the goal is to make supervision easier without invading privacy.
Timeline And Availability
The company plans to introduce these parental controls on Instagram first. The rollout will begin early next year in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
At launch, the tools will be available only in English. Instagram head Adam Mosseri and Meta AI head Alexandr Wang announced the update in a joint post.
They acknowledged that parents face growing challenges as technology evolves.
“We recognize parents already have a lot on their plates when it comes to navigating the internet safely with their teens, and we’re committed to providing them with helpful tools and resources that make things simpler for them, especially as they think about new technology like AI,” they wrote.
Age-appropriate Standards
Meta will apply PG-13 content guidelines to all teen interactions with AI. These guidelines exclude sensitive subjects such as extreme violence, nudity, and graphic drug use.
Currently, teens can only access a limited number of characters that follow these standards. Parents can also set time limits for AI chats to manage screen time more effectively.
Earlier this year, Instagram began using AI to detect users who attempt to bypass age restrictions by providing false information. This measure is part of Meta’s broader safety strategy.
Industry Trend
Meta aligns with a change sweeping across the industry. In recent weeks, OpenAI and YouTube have also launched new tools to improve teen safety.
These changes follow growing public concern about the effects of social media on teen mental health.
Several lawsuits have accused major tech firms of contributing to teen suicides by failing to provide adequate protection.
As scrutiny intensifies, platforms are introducing stricter policies and more parental oversight features.
