Meta has announced a temporary pause on teen access to its AI characters as the company works on a redesigned version of the feature aimed at improving safety and user experience. The move is part of Meta’s broader effort to strengthen parental controls and address concerns around how younger users interact with AI-powered tools.
The decision follows Meta’s earlier commitment to introduce enhanced safeguards for teen AI usage, first outlined in an October update focused on expanding parental oversight across its platforms. According to the company, restricting teen access will take effect in the coming weeks while development continues on a new iteration of AI characters intended for both adults and younger audiences.
Meta stated that the pause allows its teams to concentrate on building a unified version of AI characters rather than applying parental controls to the existing system and then repeating the process for the upcoming release. By consolidating development efforts, the company aims to deliver a more consistent and secure AI experience once the updated characters are made available to teens.
A Meta spokesperson explained that parental control features will be integrated directly into the new version of the AI characters before they are reintroduced to teen users. This approach is designed to ensure that safety mechanisms are embedded from the start, rather than added retroactively.
The update reflects Meta’s ongoing focus on teen safety and responsible AI deployment, as regulators, parents, and digital safety advocates continue to scrutinize how artificial intelligence is used by younger audiences. Once the new version launches, Meta says teens will regain access to AI characters alongside expanded parental controls intended to provide greater transparency and oversight.