Core Viewpoint - Meta is pausing teens' access to its AI characters globally across all its apps to develop a special version tailored for teens [1][5] Group 1: Company Actions - Meta is not abandoning its AI character efforts but is focusing on creating a safer experience for teens [1] - The company has rolled out new parental control features aimed at restricting teen access to sensitive topics, inspired by PG-13 movie ratings [2] - Meta has received feedback from parents requesting more insights and control over their teens' interactions with AI characters, leading to the decision to pause access [4] Group 2: Upcoming Changes - Teens will lose access to AI characters until the new teen-specific versions are ready, affecting users who have provided a teen birthday or are suspected to be teens based on age prediction technology [5] - The new AI characters will include built-in parental controls and will focus on age-appropriate topics such as education, sports, and hobbies [6] Group 3: Industry Context - Social media companies, including Meta, are under scrutiny from regulators, with ongoing legal challenges related to the protection of minors and social media addiction [7] - Other AI companies have also modified their offerings for teens in response to lawsuits, implementing age restrictions and safety rules [8]

Core Viewpoint - Meta is pausing teens' access to its AI characters globally across all its apps to develop an updated version that includes enhanced parental controls and age-appropriate content [1][5][6] Group 1: Company Actions - Meta is not abandoning its AI character efforts but is instead focusing on creating a new version tailored for teens [1][2] - The company has been implementing parental control features on its platforms, allowing parents to monitor and restrict their teens' interactions with AI characters [4][6] - The new AI characters will provide age-appropriate responses and focus on safe topics such as education, sports, and hobbies [6] Group 2: Regulatory Context - The decision to pause access to AI characters comes just before a trial in New Mexico, where Meta faces accusations of failing to protect children from exploitation on its apps [2][7] - Meta is under scrutiny from regulators regarding its impact on teen mental health and social media addiction, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg expected to testify in an upcoming trial [7] Group 3: Industry Trends - Other AI companies are also modifying their offerings for teens in response to lawsuits related to self-harm, indicating a broader industry trend towards increased safety measures for younger users [8]