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Meta announced on Friday that it would suspend access to existing AI characters by teenagers on all social media platforms as it continues to build new versions for users.
“Starting in the coming weeks, teens will no longer have access to AI characters across our apps until the updated experience is ready,” Meta said in an updated blog post on its website.
Meta said the suspension applies to all users who provided a teen’s birthday on the platform, as well as any users the company suspects to be a teen based on age prediction technology.
The announcement comes after Meta previewed new safety measures in October that would allow parents to disable private chats between teens and AI characters, following criticism of chatbots that engage in flirtatious conversations.
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Meta has announced that it will temporarily suspend access to AI characters by teens across its apps while it builds an updated version with additional safety measures. (Getty Images/Getty Images)
The company says the tool allows parents to block specific AI characters and view a wide range of topics their teens are discussing with chatbots and meta AI assistants without completely cutting off access to the AI.
Meta said the control feature has not yet been introduced, adding that parental controls will be incorporated into updated versions of its AI characters once new safeguards for teens are rolled out.
According to Meta, teenagers will still have access to Meta’s AI assistant with “age-appropriate protections.”
The tech giant previously said its AI characters are designed to avoid engaging in age-inappropriate discussions with minors about topics such as self-harm, suicide and eating disorders.
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A sign outside Meta headquarters on Thursday, February 1, 2024 in Menlo Park, California, USA. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)
The company said the youth-oriented AI experience will be offered under the PG-13 movie rating system, aimed at preventing children from accessing inappropriate content.
The push for new safety measures comes after a report published in September found that some of Instagram’s safety features were not working effectively.
The report also revealed that Meta’s chatbot engaged in “romantic or sensual conversations,” prompting criticism from parents and child safety advocates.
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Meta said it will block teens from accessing AI characters across its apps while the latest safety features are developed. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images/Getty Images)
FOX Business has reached out to Meta for additional information.
FOX Business’ Landon Mion contributed to this report.
