Meta Adds Parental Controls to Block AI Chatbots From Children

What Happened

Meta has announced a new set of parental controls, allowing parents to block Meta’s AI-powered chatbots from communicating with their children on its platforms such as Facebook Messenger and Instagram. These safeguards are being rolled out in response to increasing concerns about the safety of artificial intelligence and automated interactions with minors. Parents will be able to set restrictions and have more oversight over their children’s online experience, aiming to reduce risks associated with conversing with bots that may generate inappropriate or unsafe content. The company says these measures are part of a broader strategy to protect younger users online as the use of conversational AI rises in popularity.

Why It Matters

The rise of AI-powered chatbots on social platforms creates new challenges for child safety and online trust. Meta’s move addresses growing pressures on tech giants to strengthen safeguards for minors in the era of generative AI. Read more in our AI News Hub