meta previews new parental controls for its ai experiences

Meta Announces New Parental Controls for Teen AI Interactions

Meta unveiled a preview of forthcoming parental control features designed for teen conversations with AI characters across its platforms on Friday.

These features, slated for release next year, will empower parents to block specific characters and oversee the subjects being discussed.

Expanded Control Options for Parents

In the coming months, parents will gain the ability to completely disable chats with AI characters for their teenage children.

It’s important to note that this action will not restrict access to the Meta AI chatbot itself; this general-purpose AI will remain available but will be limited to age-appropriate content.

Furthermore, parents will have the option to selectively disable chats with individual characters, providing a more granular level of control.

Parents will also be provided with insights into the topics their teens are exploring with both AI characters and Meta AI.

Rollout and Availability

The company intends to initially deploy these controls on Instagram in early next year.

At launch, they will be accessible in English within the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.

Instagram head Adam Mosseri and the newly appointed head of Meta AI, Alexandr Wang, jointly stated the company’s commitment to simplifying online safety for parents.

They acknowledged the existing demands on parents navigating the internet with their teens, particularly concerning emerging technologies like AI.

Content Guidelines and Age Restrictions

Earlier this week, Meta announced that its AI and content experiences for teens will adhere to a PG-13 rating standard.

Sensitive content, including depictions of extreme violence, nudity, and explicit drug use, will be avoided.

Currently, teen interactions are limited to a select group of characters that comply with age-appropriate guidelines.

Parents can also establish time limits for their teens’ engagements with AI characters.

Instagram previously announced the implementation of AI to detect and prevent attempts to circumvent age restrictions by falsifying age information.

Industry-Wide Focus on Teen Safety

Over recent weeks, several platforms, including OpenAI, Meta, and YouTube, have introduced tools and controls centered on teen safety.

These developments are occurring amidst escalating concerns regarding the impact of social media on adolescent mental health.

Furthermore, lawsuits have been filed against AI companies alleging their involvement in teen suicides.