Meta Introduces Parental Controls for AI Chats on Instagram

Meta Platforms Inc. is stepping up efforts to protect teenagers from potentially harmful AI interactions on Instagram. The social media giant announced new parental controls that will allow parents to monitor and limit their teens’ conversations with AI chatbots.

The update comes after growing concerns over some AI characters engaging in inappropriate or flirtatious exchanges with minors. Under the new system, parents can block individual AI characters, restrict private one-on-one chats, and review the general topics their children discuss—all without fully disabling the AI features.

Meta also confirmed that its AI experiences for teens will follow a PG-13 rating approach, aiming to limit exposure to mature or suggestive content. The company emphasized that its main AI assistant will remain available with age-appropriate settings even if certain interactions are blocked.

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These features will initially launch early next year in the U.S., U.K., Canada, and Australia. They complement existing teen safety measures, including automatic detection of underage users who might misrepresent their age.

The move reflects increased scrutiny of AI’s role in social media, following reports highlighting gaps in Instagram’s teen safety tools. Earlier investigations revealed that AI rules sometimes allowed suggestive conversations with teenagers, raising questions about how platforms manage AI risks.

With parental controls now being adopted across major AI platforms, the industry is taking tentative steps to ensure safer digital spaces for minors, balancing engagement with essential protections.