Meta has announced a series of important changes aimed at giving parents more control over how teens interact with Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots on its platforms. The new measures will come into effect early next year, as part of the company's efforts to improve the protection of young users in digital environments.
According to Meta's announcement, parents will have the option to completely block or limit their children's interactions with AI characters on the company's platforms, including Instagram and Messenger. This will allow parents to stop individual conversations with virtual chatbots or choose which ones can remain accessible to their children.
However, Meta stressed that its main artificial intelligence assistant will not be able to be completely deactivated, as according to the company it "will remain available to provide useful information and educational opportunities, with protections adapted to the age of teenagers."
In addition to the interaction restrictions, Meta has also introduced a new feature that allows parents to get summaries of the topics of conversations their children have with AI chatbots. These reports will provide general information about the type of content being discussed, but without revealing the full content of the conversations, in order to preserve the privacy of teenagers. These measures come at a time when Meta faces ongoing criticism from public opinion and child protection organizations regarding the negative impact that its platforms can have on the mental health of children and young people. Artificial intelligence chatbots are also under increased scrutiny, as several international lawsuits claim that their interactions with young people have led to serious emotional consequences, even in cases of suicide.
However, chatbot use remains widespread among teens. A recent study by the nonprofit organization Common Sense Media, which promotes responsible use of digital media, shows that more than 70% of teens have communicated with AI-based “virtual friends,” and about half of them use these apps regularly.
As part of the new changes, Meta also announced that teen Instagram accounts will be automatically restricted to "PG-13" content, meaning young users will not have access to adult content, such as scenes of violence, drugs, or sexual content. These settings will not be able to be changed without parental approval.
"PG-13" restrictions will also apply to conversations with artificial intelligence chatbots, ensuring that interactions remain safe and age-appropriate for users.
Meta emphasized that these measures represent an important step towards creating a safer environment for teenagers online, combining technological innovation with parental protection and transparency in the use of artificial intelligence.
