Meta previews new parental controls for its AI experiences

TechCrunch
TechCrunch
2M ago
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Meta announced new parental controls for teens interacting with AI characters, allowing parents to monitor and restrict conversations. This matters as it addresses growing concerns over teen safety and mental health in digital spaces.
Meta previews new parental controls for its AI experiences
A What happened
On October 17, 2025, Meta unveiled new parental control features designed for its AI interactions with teens, which will be implemented in early 2026. Parents will have the ability to block certain AI characters, monitor conversation topics, and completely disable chats with AI characters for their teens. While these controls will initially be available on Instagram in English across the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia, they aim to provide parents with tools to navigate their children's online interactions safely. Meta's initiative comes amid rising concerns regarding the effects of social media and AI on teen mental health, especially following lawsuits alleging that AI companies contributed to teen suicides. The company has committed to ensuring that its AI experiences adhere to PG-13 content guidelines, avoiding sensitive topics and allowing parents to set time limits on interactions.
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Key insights

  • 1

    Enhanced parental oversight: Parents can monitor and restrict AI interactions for their teens.

  • 2

    Focus on teen safety: Meta's controls address concerns over social media's impact on mental health.

  • 3

    Content guidelines adherence: AI interactions will follow PG-13 standards to ensure age-appropriate content.

Takeaways

Meta's introduction of parental controls for AI interactions reflects a growing commitment to teen safety in digital environments, addressing significant concerns from parents and society about the influence of technology on youth.

Topics

Technology & Innovation Artificial Intelligence Social Media Health & Medicine Mental Health