Meta pauses teen access to AI characters while developing new, safer version
Meta has temporarily stopped teenagers from chatting with its AI characters while it develops a redesigned version of the feature. The company says the pause will allow it to introduce built-in parental controls and improve safety for younger users.
New Delhi: Meta is temporarily stopping teenagers from chatting with its AI characters as it works on a redesigned version of the feature. The company says the pause is meant to ensure a safer and more controlled experience for younger users once the updated characters are released.
The decision was disclosed through an update to a previous blog post on teen safety. According to Meta, the restriction will begin "in the coming weeks” and applies only to the current version of its AI characters. Teen access will return once the new iteration is ready and equipped with stronger parental controls.
Teen access paused during AI redesign
Meta said it began developing a new version of its AI characters for both adults and teens after announcing plans for parental controls in October. Instead of building safety features twice, the company chose to pause teen access to the existing characters while focusing on the overhaul.
Sophie Vogel, a Meta spokesperson, said the upcoming version will launch with parental controls built in. The goal is to offer a better overall experience while addressing safety concerns raised by families.
Parents asked for more control and transparency
According to TechCrunch, Meta said parents want clearer insights and stronger control over how their teens interact with AI characters. That feedback played a key role in the company’s decision.
Earlier plans included letting parents block one-on-one AI chats, restrict specific characters, and view topic-level insights from conversations. While blocking tools were expected to roll out earlier this year, Meta says it is still finalizing how conversation insights will be shared with parents.
Meta confirmed that insight-sharing tools for its AI assistant are still in development and will launch soon. The company did not provide a specific timeline.
The move follows earlier changes to Instagram teen accounts. Last October, Meta adjusted content settings so teens only see material similar to what is allowed in films rated for ages 13 and above. The latest AI pause signals continued scrutiny over how teens engage with new technologies.