Meta has announced it is suspending teenagers’ access to its artificial intelligence characters, at least for now, according to a blog post released Friday.
The company, which owns Instagram and WhatsApp, said that in the coming weeks, teens will no longer be able to use AI characters while Meta works on an updated version of the experience. The restriction applies to users who have listed their age as under 18, as well as those who say they are adults but are believed to be minors based on Meta’s age-detection technology.
Teens will still be able to use Meta’s AI assistant, but access to AI characters will be removed.
The decision comes just days before Meta, along with TikTok and Google’s YouTube, is set to face trial in Los Angeles over allegations that their platforms harm children.
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Meta’s move follows similar actions by other tech companies amid rising concerns about how AI-driven interactions may affect young users. Character.AI imposed a ban on teen access last fall and is currently facing multiple lawsuits related to child safety, including a case brought by the mother of a teenager who claims the company’s chatbots encouraged her son to take his own life.