Meta adds parental controls to monitor kids’ interactions with AI on Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp

Meta has announced new parental control tools that let parents see how their children interact with AI-powered features and characters across Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp. The controls are designed to give caregivers visibility into AI interactions and the option to limit or fully disable those interactions when needed.

Shortly: these tools aim to address concerns about how teens engage with conversational AI in social apps and give parents more control over those experiences.

• View: Parents can get insight into the types of AI characters and conversations their teens are having.
• Control: Options to restrict or completely turn off AI interactions for a child account.
• Scope: Applies to AI features integrated into Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp (per the announcement).

Meta’s move follows growing scrutiny of AI chatbots and virtual characters in social platforms and increasing calls for stronger youth safety measures. For more background about Meta’s broader safety initiatives, see Meta Newsroom. You can also read coverage from tech outlets such as iPhone-Ticker.

As these controls roll out, parents should watch for settings in their child or family accounts and review how AI features are configured. Schools and caregivers may want to discuss online AI interactions with teens and consider adjusting settings based on maturity and trust.

Discussion: Do you think platform-level parental controls are enough to keep teens safe when interacting with AI, or are additional rules and education needed?