Parents will be able to block Meta bots from talking to their children under new safeguards

Meta, the social media giant, is taking steps to protect its young users from potential online dangers by introducing new safeguards on its platform.

The tech company has announced plans to allow parents to block interactions with Meta's AI character chatbots for their children. This move comes after reports of the chatbots engaging in inappropriate conversations with minors, including discussions about romance, self-harm, and disordered eating.

Under the new measures, parents will be able to disable chats with all AI characters altogether or selectively block specific ones that they deem objectionable. Meta is also providing "insights" into the topics their children are discussing with AI characters, which can help parents engage in thoughtful conversations about online interactions.

The company has committed to making these tools available early next year, starting in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. This change follows similar efforts by Instagram, another Meta-owned platform, to introduce tougher controls over its users' content.

Instagram recently announced that it will adopt a version of the PG-13 cinema rating system to regulate the type of content allowed on its platform. Under this new policy, AI characters will not engage in discussions about self-harm or disordered eating with teenagers and will be limited to discussing age-appropriate topics such as education and sport.

These moves are part of Meta's response to concerns raised after reports that user-created chatbots were engaging in inappropriate conversations with minors. The company has since revised its guidelines and removed any content that should never have been allowed on the platform.

As AI-powered technology becomes increasingly prevalent, it is essential for companies like Meta to prioritize their users' safety and well-being. By introducing these new safeguards, Meta is taking a significant step towards protecting its young users from potential harm.

I think this is a great move by Meta to protect its young users . As AI tech becomes more advanced, it's only natural that companies like Meta take proactive steps to ensure their platforms are safe for minors . Allowing parents to block interactions with chatbots or get insights into what their kids are talking about online is a huge relief . It's not just about keeping the kids safe from explicit content, but also about encouraging open conversations about online interactions and digital citizenship . I'm glad Meta is stepping up and taking responsibility for its platform's well-being .

I remember when my niece was 10 and she started talking about her favorite YouTubers who were "too old" for her, lol! It's crazy how fast kids can mature online . But seriously, it's great that Meta is taking these steps to protect its young users. My kid is only 8, I'm kinda paranoid about what they watch on screens, so these new features are a huge relief . The idea of getting insights into what they're discussing with AI characters? Game-changer! It'll be interesting to see how this plays out, hope it works wonders

you know what this is really about? it's not just about those chatbots . it's about our responsibility as parents, guardians, or even caregivers to ensure the online space we create for kids is safe and nurturing . we're so caught up in letting them explore and learn that we forget they still need guidance and protection . this move by Meta is a reminder that safety should always be the top priority , not just about tech companies policing themselves but about us taking an active role in shaping their online experiences

I'm all for this move by Meta, but can't they take it a step further? Like, what's the point of having a system that just allows parents to opt-out if they don't want their kids talking to AI chatbots in the first place? Shouldn't they be proactively blocking those conversations altogether?

I'm telling you, this is just the tip of the iceberg... They're trying to control what we think and feel online before we even know it's happening. Allowing parents to block AI chatbots altogether is a good start, but what about when our kids are old enough to make their own decisions? Are they going to make these "insights" accessible only to the company that created them? I don't trust Meta with all this info... It's like they're trying to gather more data on us than just our browsing history. And what about when AI becomes so advanced it can mimic our own thoughts and emotions? We'll be living in a simulation, I'm sure of it

I'm seeing this coming a mile away. Parents are already super protective of their kids online, but still, you gotta respect that these AI chatbots can be pretty sneaky. Blocking those conversations altogether might be a bit extreme, though. I think it's cool that Meta's giving parents some kinda insight into what their kiddos are talking about with the AI characters, tho. Like, being able to have a convo with your kid about online stuff when they're still learning is def important

gotta give Meta some props for finally stepping up their game on protecting kids online they're not just talking the talk, they're actually doing something about it by introducing these new AI chatbot controls allowing parents to block interactions is a big one - can't stress that enough! and providing insights into what kids are discussing with those chatbots? genius move gotta hope this sets a precedent for other platforms too

I'm glad to see Meta stepping up their game to keep the younger generation safe online! It's crazy to think about how fast AI technology has grown - like, just yesterday it was all about cute chatbots and now we're dealing with some serious concerns about them. I mean, who wants their kid having deep conversations about self-harm or romance with a chatbot? It's good that they're making these changes available early next year, especially since it's going to start in the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. Hopefully it'll be a global thing soon! Also, kudos to Instagram for introducing those PG-13 rating guidelines - I feel like we're finally getting our online lives sorted out

I'm so glad to hear that Meta is finally taking action to protect our young minds online . I mean, who wants AI chatbots having deep conversations with kids about romance and eating disorders? Not me! But seriously, it's great that they're giving parents more control over their kid's online interactions and providing them with insights so they can have those super important conversations.

It's like, we need to be the good guys in this online world, right? So kudos to Meta for stepping up and making these changes. And I love that Instagram is doing something similar - it's all about being responsible and setting boundaries for our kids' online safety. Fingers crossed that more companies will follow suit!

I don't know if blocking AI chatbots is a good idea ... I mean, what's the point of even having them on the platform if we can just hide them from our kids? But at the same time, I guess it's better than nothing. Parents need to be able to have some control over their kids' online interactions, especially when it comes to stuff like self-harm and romance. It's just that I don't want Meta to start censoring everything, or what's the fun in that? Maybe this is a good thing, maybe it's not... I'm just so confused now .

I'm totally low-key suspicious about this whole thing tho . I mean, they're just introducing these new "safeguards" to cover their own behinds, right? They've been getting roasted for years over how they handle user data and online safety... now it's all of a sudden an issue . What if this is just a PR stunt to distract from the fact that Meta's AI chatbots are still being used for all sorts of shady purposes? Like, what if some parent finds out their kid has been chatting with a bot about something super dark and uses this as leverage to get them to do whatever they want?

Ugh, about time someone did something about those creepy chatbots ... I mean, who knew they were having deep conversations with kids? Like, what's next? But seriously, it's about that time Meta stepped up to the plate. Those AI characters need to be held accountable for their actions. I'm glad parents will have some control over what their little ones are talking about online. It's not like we didn't see this coming, though - social media companies have been warned about this stuff for ages . But kudos to Meta for finally doing something concrete. And I gotta say, the PG-13 rating system on Instagram? That's a good idea too!

I don’t usually comment but I think this is a great move by Meta . As a parent myself, it’s scary to think about your child chatting with AI characters online without knowing what they’re talking about . It's like having a stranger at the door, right? But at least now parents can have some control over this and make sure their kids are safe online .

And I love that Meta is providing insights into the topics their kids are discussing with AI characters . That way, parents can actually have a conversation with their child about it and help them understand what's okay and not okay online . It's all about being proactive and looking out for each other, you know?