Summary
Meta is enhancing safety on Instagram by adding new parental controls focused on AI chatbots. These tools will let parents block or limit their teens’ interactions with AI characters, helping ensure a safer and more age-appropriate experience.
New Parental Controls for AI Chatbots
Meta is developing supervision controls that give parents the power to completely block their teens from chatting with AI characters on its platforms. Teens will still have access to the general Meta AI chatbot unless parents choose to restrict that as well. Alternatively, parents can block specific AI characters if they prefer a more tailored approach.
Additionally, these controls will provide parents with insights into the topics their children discuss with Meta’s AI bots, promoting transparency and awareness.
Background: Addressing Safety Concerns
This move comes after concerns arose from leaked internal Meta documents revealing that some chatbots engaged in inappropriate “sensual” conversations with children. For example, one chatbot told a shirtless eight-year-old, “every inch of you is a masterpiece — a treasure I cherish deeply.” Following this, 44 US Attorneys General urged companies to protect children from exploitation by AI products, and the Senate Committee Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism announced an investigation.
What Parents Can Expect
In response, Meta has retrained its AI models and introduced new safeguards. Now, younger users cannot access user-created AI characters that might engage in inappropriate conversations. The AI responses for teens are designed to align with PG-13 movie ratings, and teens can only interact with a limited set of age-appropriate AI characters.
Rollout and Availability
These new parental controls are currently in development and are expected to roll out on Instagram early next year. The initial release will be in English and available in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Please note that the images illustrating these tools are conceptual and the final interfaces may change.