Meta is implementing enhanced parental control measures for its AI chatbot across its platforms, addressing concerns surrounding adolescent interactions with the technology. The company’s AI is integrated throughout its services, and increasing user engagement with the chatbot has presented challenges, including instances of minors engaging in conversations of a romantic nature. In response, Meta is developing features designed to provide greater oversight and control for parents.
On Friday, Adam Mosseri, Chief AI Officer at Meta, announced the introduction of new parental controls for the AI chatbot. These features, slated for a rollout early next year, will offer parents a suite of tools. Among these, parents will have the capability to restrict access to specific AI characters or completely disable their children’s access to Meta AI.
Furthermore, parents will receive summaries of the subject matter discussed between their children and the chatbot. While specific details on the implementation of this feature are forthcoming, Meta has indicated further information will be released soon.
Meta is approaching this initiative with a balanced perspective. While empowering parents, the company intends to maintain the availability of the chatbot for teens, incorporating age-appropriate safeguards to facilitate access to relevant information. Mosseri emphasized that the chatbot will continue to provide teens with useful information while implementing necessary protections.
Initially, these changes and features will be implemented exclusively on Instagram, with plans for subsequent expansion to other platforms. The parental control functionalities will be available only to English-speaking users in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.
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