Meta previews new parental controls for its AI experiences

Core Insights - Meta is introducing new parental control features for teens interacting with AI characters, set to launch next year, allowing parents to block characters and monitor conversation topics [1][2] - Parents will have the option to disable chats with AI characters entirely or selectively, and they will receive insights into the topics discussed by their teens [2][3] - The company aims to provide tools that simplify internet navigation for parents, especially regarding new technologies like AI [3] Parental Controls - The upcoming features will be available on Instagram and will initially be rolled out in English in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia [2] - Parents can set time limits on their teens' interactions with AI characters, and currently, teens can only engage with a limited number of age-appropriate characters [5] Content Guidelines - Meta's AI experiences for teens will adhere to a PG-13 movie rating standard, avoiding sensitive topics such as extreme violence, nudity, and graphic drug use [4] - The company has previously implemented AI to identify users attempting to bypass age restrictions on the platform [5] Industry Context - Recent changes by multiple platforms, including Meta, OpenAI, and YouTube, reflect growing concerns about the impact of social media on teen mental health and ongoing lawsuits against AI companies related to teen suicides [7]