Meta Platforms Inc. is introducing new parental controls designed to give parents more oversight of their teenagers’ activity on its apps, including Instagram and Facebook, following mounting criticism over potentially harmful interactions with the company’s AI chatbots. The changes, announced Tuesday, will allow parents to approve or deny their teens’ requests to download apps and will provide activity reports detailing time spent on the platforms.
The move comes amid growing concerns about the safety of young users online and specifically follows reports of Meta’s AI chatbots engaging in suggestive or inappropriate conversations with children.Lawmakers and advocacy groups have pressured Meta to strengthen its safeguards,arguing that the company has a responsibility to protect vulnerable users from exploitation and harmful content. The new controls aim to address these concerns by increasing transparency and giving parents more tools to manage their children’s digital experiences.
Specifically, Meta is rolling out “Family Switch,” a new tool within its Family Center that allows parents and teens to jointly manage settings. Parents can approve or deny requests from their teens to download apps from the app stores, and teens can initiate those requests. Meta is also introducing activity reports for teens, showing time spent on Instagram and Facebook, and also the accounts they interact with. These reports will be visible to both parents and teens.
The company is also expanding its supervision tools to include Reels, a popular short-form video format on Instagram. previously, parental supervision was limited to direct messaging. Parents will now be able to see what Reels their teens are watching.
These features are being rolled out in the United states, with plans for expansion to other countries in the coming months.Meta stated the changes are part of its ongoing commitment to creating a safer online environment for young people, acknowledging the evolving challenges of digital parenting. The company has faced increased scrutiny from regulators and the public regarding its handling of user safety, especially concerning children and adolescents.
