Meta pauses teen access to AI characters
Meta PlatformsMeta Platforms(US:META) BusinessLine·2026-01-24 05:25

Core Viewpoint - Meta is temporarily halting teens' access to AI characters, citing the need for an updated experience before allowing access again [1][2]. Group 1: Company Actions - Starting in the coming weeks, Meta will restrict access to AI characters for users identified as minors, including those who claim to be adults but are suspected to be teens based on age prediction technology [2]. - Teens will still have access to Meta's AI assistant, but not to the AI characters [3]. Group 2: Industry Context - Other companies, such as Character.AI, have also implemented bans on teens accessing AI chatbots due to concerns about the impact of AI conversations on children [3]. - Character.AI is currently facing multiple lawsuits related to child safety, including a case involving a teenager's tragic death linked to the company's chatbots [3].