In an updated blog post outlining its approach to protecting minors, the company said, “Starting in the coming weeks, teens will no longer be able to access AI characters across our apps until the updated experience is ready.”
Meta added that the new version of AI characters for teens will come with parental controls once it becomes available. The company said these measures are intended to enhance safety for young users as it redesigns the experience.
The move comes after Meta previewed parental control options in October, which would allow parents to disable their teens’ private chats with AI characters. The announcement was part of a broader effort to respond to intense criticism over the behavior of its flirty chatbots and to make its social media platforms safer for minors.
However, Meta clarified on Friday that the parental controls have not yet been launched.
In addition to parental controls, Meta previously said its AI experiences for teens would be guided by the PG-13 movie rating system. The company said the framework is intended to prevent minors from accessing inappropriate content while using AI features.
The decision to suspend teen access to AI characters also follows increasing regulatory scrutiny of AI companies in the United States over potential harms posed by chatbots. In August, Reuters reported that Meta’s AI rules allowed provocative conversations with minors, prompting concern from lawmakers and safety advocates.