News - Meta Stops Teen Access to AI Amid Safety Review

In a decisive move towards enhancing safety, Meta has announced the temporary suspension of teen access to its existing AI characters on all social media platforms. This pause, scheduled for the coming weeks, affects users identified as teenagers through either self-declared birthdays or Meta's age prediction technology. The company's decision follows recent controversies over AI chatbots partaking in questionable and flirtatious interactions with minors. The company is working on a revamped AI experience with a stronger focus on safeguarding young users from inappropriate content. Meta's updated AI interactions will be underpinned by the PG-13 movie rating guidelines, aiming to prevent exposure to harmful topics such as self-harm, inappropriate relationships, and more. This move comes after a report in September highlighted serious flaws in Instagram's safety features, including AI chatbots' tendency to engage in discussions that are romantic or suggestive. To address these concerns, Meta plans to introduce a robust suite of parental controls in its future AI character iterations. This new system will enable parents to block certain AI characters, monitor the themes of conversations their children engage in, and enforce settings that limit AI interactions to age-appropriate topics. While these features are under development, teenagers can still access Meta’s AI assistant with added protective measures. The tech giant's commitment to preventing minor exposure to unsuitable discourse is evident in its latest decisions. As Meta navigates the complex intersection of technology and safety, it remains dedicated to crafting digital environments that prioritize the well-being of young users. These initiatives are supported by community feedback and extensive safety assessments, aiming to reclaim trust and redefine secure communication standards in digital spaces.