Meta Halts Teen Access to AI Characters During Safety Review Process
I/O Fund lead tech analyst Beth Kindig explains why Google and OpenAI are both winners in AI on ‘Making Money’.
In a significant move, Meta announced on Friday that it will suspend teenagers’ access to its existing AI characters across all social media platforms. This decision comes as the company works on developing a new version tailored specifically for younger users.
According to an updated blog post, “Starting in the coming weeks, teens will no longer be able to access AI characters across our apps until the updated experience is ready.” This pause will affect any user who has provided a teen birthday to the platform, as well as those identified as teens through Meta’s age prediction technology.
This announcement follows Meta’s preview of a new safety measure in October, which would allow parents to disable their teenagers’ private chats with AI characters. This measure was introduced in response to criticism regarding chatbots engaging in flirtatious conversations with minors.
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Meta said it will temporarily suspend teens’ access to AI characters across its apps while it builds an updated version with added safeguards. (Getty Images / Getty Images)
The new tool will empower parents to block specific AI characters and monitor the general topics their teens discuss with chatbots and Meta’s AI assistant, without completely disabling AI access. However, this control feature has not yet been launched and will be integrated into the updated version of the AI characters once the new safeguards are implemented.
Despite the suspension, teens will still have access to Meta’s AI assistant, which will include “age-appropriate protections.” The tech giant has previously stated that its AI characters are designed to avoid engaging in discussions that are inappropriate for minors, such as those related to self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders.
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Signage outside Meta headquarters in Menlo Park, California, US, on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Meta’s AI experiences for teenagers will be guided by the PG-13 movie rating system, aiming to prevent children from accessing inappropriate content. This initiative follows a report published in September, which revealed that several Instagram safety features were ineffective.
Additionally, the report highlighted that Meta’s chatbots had engaged in “romantic or sensual conversations,” leading to backlash from parents and child-safety advocates.
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Meta said it will block teens from accessing AI characters across its apps while updated safety features are developed. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images / Getty Images)
FOX Business reached out to Meta for additional information.
FOX Business’ Landon Mion contributed to this report.
I/O Fund lead tech analyst Beth Kindig explains why Google and OpenAI are both winners in AI on ‘Making Money’.
In a significant move, Meta announced on Friday that it will suspend teenagers’ access to its existing AI characters across all social media platforms. This decision comes as the company works on developing a new version tailored specifically for younger users.
According to an updated blog post, “Starting in the coming weeks, teens will no longer be able to access AI characters across our apps until the updated experience is ready.” This pause will affect any user who has provided a teen birthday to the platform, as well as those identified as teens through Meta’s age prediction technology.
This announcement follows Meta’s preview of a new safety measure in October, which would allow parents to disable their teenagers’ private chats with AI characters. This measure was introduced in response to criticism regarding chatbots engaging in flirtatious conversations with minors.
TIKTOK AVOIDS US BAN BY FINALIZING HISTORIC TRUMP-BACKED AMERICAN MAJORITY OWNERSHIP DEAL
Meta said it will temporarily suspend teens’ access to AI characters across its apps while it builds an updated version with added safeguards. (Getty Images / Getty Images)
The new tool will empower parents to block specific AI characters and monitor the general topics their teens discuss with chatbots and Meta’s AI assistant, without completely disabling AI access. However, this control feature has not yet been launched and will be integrated into the updated version of the AI characters once the new safeguards are implemented.
Despite the suspension, teens will still have access to Meta’s AI assistant, which will include “age-appropriate protections.” The tech giant has previously stated that its AI characters are designed to avoid engaging in discussions that are inappropriate for minors, such as those related to self-harm, suicide, and eating disorders.
ADS COMING TO CHATGPT FOR SOME US USERS AS OPENAI SEEKS TO GENERATE NEW REVENUE
Signage outside Meta headquarters in Menlo Park, California, US, on Thursday, Feb. 1, 2024. (David Paul Morris/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)
Meta’s AI experiences for teenagers will be guided by the PG-13 movie rating system, aiming to prevent children from accessing inappropriate content. This initiative follows a report published in September, which revealed that several Instagram safety features were ineffective.
Additionally, the report highlighted that Meta’s chatbots had engaged in “romantic or sensual conversations,” leading to backlash from parents and child-safety advocates.
GET FOX BUSINESS ON THE GO BY CLICKING HERE
Meta said it will block teens from accessing AI characters across its apps while updated safety features are developed. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images / Getty Images)
FOX Business reached out to Meta for additional information.
FOX Business’ Landon Mion contributed to this report.
