Social media company Meta has introduced new parental control features on its platforms to strengthen children's online safety. Parents will now be able to maintain limited oversight over their children's AI chats and protect them from inappropriate content. The company has also defaulted to limiting PG-13 level content for teen users on Instagram.
Meta New Features: Social media company Meta has announced significant changes on its platforms, keeping children's safety in mind. Starting early next year, parents will have the option to disable private chats between their children and AI chatbots. Additionally, on Instagram, PG-13 level content will now be limited by default for teen users. This
Parents to Have Control Over AI Chats
Social media company Meta has launched new parental control features on its platforms to strengthen children's safety. Starting early next year, parents will have the option to disable private chats between their children and AI chatbots. However, Meta's AI assistant will not be entirely shut down; instead, it will be limited to providing educational and useful information.
The company states that the AI features available for children already include age-based safety filters. These changes are being implemented at a time when questions are being raised about children's online privacy and safety on Meta.
Stricter Content Rules on Instagram
Meta has also tightened content rules for teen users on its flagship platform, Instagram. Now, PG-13 level content will be limited by default on accounts belonging to teenagers. This means teen users will only be able to view photos and videos that are family-oriented and safe.
Under the new rules, content depicting nudity, drug use, or dangerous stunts will be automatically filtered out. Furthermore, children will not be able to change these account settings without their parents' permission.
Limited Monitoring Facility for Chatbots
Meta has also clarified that if parents do not wish to disable all chats, they can choose to block a specific AI chatbot. Additionally, parents will now be able to get information about the types of conversations their children are having with AI characters.
However, the company has ensured that parents will not be given access to the complete chat history, to maintain children's privacy. The aim of this step is to strike a balance between safety and privacy.
Reports Reveal Increasing Usage of AI Chats
According to a recent Common Sense Media report, approximately 70% of teenagers are now using AI chatbots, with half of them interacting regularly. Given the growing influence of these chats, Meta has decided to apply the PG-13 guideline to AI chats as well.
Many experts say that while chatbots designed for children have educational potential, they also bring increased risks to safety and privacy. Meta's move is seen as a step towards addressing these concerns.
Organizations Raise Questions
Some organizations working on child safety have raised questions about Meta's new features. They argue that even though the company has added several safety filters, uncertainties still remain regarding the long-term impact of AI chats and the protection of children's private information.
In response, Meta stated that the company prioritizes children's safety and that these parental controls will be further improved in the future based on feedback from users and experts.
