Parents will be able to block their children\u2019s interactions with Meta\u2019s AI character chatbots, as the tech company addresses concerns over inappropriate conversations.<\/p>\n
The social media company is adding new safeguards to its \u201cteen accounts<\/a>\u201d, which are a default setting for under-18 users, by letting parents turn off their children\u2019s chats with AI characters. These chatbots, which are created by users, are available on Facebook, Instagram and the Meta AI app.<\/p>\n Parents will also be able to block specific AI characters if they don\u2019t want to stop their children from interacting with chatbots altogether. They will also get \u201cinsights\u201d into the topics their children are chatting about with AI characters, which Meta said would allow them to have \u201cthoughtful\u201d conversations with their children about AI interactions.<\/p>\n \u201cWe recognise parents already have a lot on their plates when it comes to navigating the internet safely with their teens, and we\u2019re committed to providing them with helpful tools and resources that make things simpler for them, especially as they think about new technology like AI,\u201d said the Instagram head, Adam Mosseri, and Alexander Wang, Meta\u2019s chief AI officer, in a blog post<\/a>.<\/p>\n Meta said the changes would be rolled out early next year, initially to the US, UK, Canada and Australia.<\/p>\n Instagram announced this week that it was adopting a version of the PG-13 cinema rating system<\/a> to give parents stronger controls over their children\u2019s use of the social media platform. As part of the tougher restrictions, its AI characters will not discuss self-harm, suicide or disordered eating with teenagers. Under-18s will only be able to discuss age-appropriate topics such as education and sport, Meta added, but would not be able to discuss romance or \u201cother inappropriate content\u201d.<\/p>\n The changes follow reports that Meta\u2019s chatbots were engaging in inappropriate conversations with under-18s. Reuters reported in August<\/a> that Meta had permitted the bots to \u201cengage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual\u201d. Meta said it would revise the guidelines and such conversations with children never should have been allowed.<\/p>\n