Meta is stopping teens from chatting with its AI characters
Meta is “temporarily suspending” the ability for teens to chat with its AI characters while it develops a “new version” of the characters that will provide a “better experience.” The company made the announcement in an update to an October blog post in which it detailed more parental controls for teens’ use of AI. The change preventing teens from accessing characters will come into effect “starting in the coming weeks.”
“Since we announced our intention to create parental controls for AI characters in October, we have begun developing a new iteration of AI characters in general (i.e. for adults and teens),” said spokesperson Sophie Vogel. The edge. “Rather than creating parental controls twice (for current AI characters and the new iteration of AI characters), we are suspending teen access to the current version while we focus on the new iteration. When this new iteration is available to teens, it will come with parental controls.”
According to TechCrunch“Meta said she heard from parents that they wanted more information and control over their teens’ interactions with the AI characters, which is why she decided to make these changes.”
In October, Meta announced that parents could block their teens’ access to one-on-one conversations with its AI characters, block their teens from talking with specific AI characters, and share ideas with parents about topics their teens discuss with Meta’s AI characters and its AI assistant. The original plan was to roll out block controls to characters early this year. However, in Friday’s announcement, Meta says it is still working on how to share information with parents about the conversations their teens are having with Meta’s AI assistant. This feature “will be available soon,” Vogel says.
Last year, also in October, Meta changed teen Instagram accounts to allow teens to see content that mirrors what might be shown in a movie aimed at people 13 or older.
January 23 update: Added information from a Meta spokesperson.
Correction of January 23: It was clarified that Meta is still working on how to share information with parents about the conversations their teenagers are having with Meta’s AI assistant.
