Meta Is Introducing Parental Controls On Instagram To Limit Teen Access To AI Chatbots

Meta is set to roll out a new wave of parental controls designed to give parents greater power over how their teens interact with AI chatbots on Instagram and its other platforms.

The tech giant confirmed it is developing supervision features that will allow parents to completely block their teens’ access to AI chatbots if they wish.

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While these tools will stop one-on-one interactions with AI characters, teens will still have limited access to Meta’s main AI assistant. Parents can also opt to restrict access to specific AI characters rather than removing the feature entirely.

In addition, the new controls will provide parents with insights into the kinds of topics their children discuss with Meta’s AI bots. The company plans to begin rolling out these features early next year, starting in English for users in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia.

Meta Faces Scrutiny Over Inappropriate AI Conversations

Meta’s move comes after the company faced sharp criticism when an internal document leaked earlier this year. The report revealed that some of the company’s AI chatbots had engaged in “sensual” conversations with underage users.

One alarming example involved a Meta chatbot telling a shirtless eight-year-old that “every inch of you is a masterpiece — a treasure I cherish deeply.” Following the leak, Attorneys General from 44 jurisdictions urged tech companies to better protect minors “from exploitation by predatory artificial intelligence products.”

The issue has also drawn political attention, with the US Senate Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and Counterterrorism, led by Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO), announcing plans to investigate the company.

Meta Adds Safeguards and Age-Appropriate AI Responses

In response to the backlash, Meta has begun retraining its AI models and implementing stronger protections. These include measures that prevent younger users from interacting with user-created AI characters that may produce inappropriate responses.

The company has also introduced age-based safeguards, ensuring that AI interactions with teens align with PG-13 content standards. At present, teenagers are only permitted to engage with a select group of AI characters designed around safe, age-appropriate topics.

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