Meta on Friday announced new parental control features designed to give parents more oversight of how teens interact with AI characters across its platforms.
Rolling out next year, the tools will let parents block specific AI characters or even disable all AI chats entirely. However, the Meta AI chatbot will remain available, limited to age-appropriate topics. Parents will also get summaries of the subjects teens discuss with AI characters and Meta AI.
The company said the controls will debut on Instagram in early 2026, launching first in English for users in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia.
In a joint statement, Instagram head Adam Mosseri and Meta AI chief Alexandr Wang emphasized Meta’s goal of simplifying digital safety for families as AI becomes more integrated into social platforms.
Earlier this week, Meta said AI content for teens will adhere to PG-13 standards, excluding themes like nudity, drug use, and extreme violence. Teens can also interact only with a limited set of approved characters, and parents will have the option to set time limits for AI interactions.
The announcement follows a broader industry trend, with OpenAI, Meta, and YouTube introducing new teen safety measures amid heightened scrutiny over social media’s impact on youth mental health.
