Teen Safety

The UK is proposing new regulations to protect teenagers from social media harms. Measures include mandatory overnight curfews and disabling addictive features like infinite scrolling for 16- and 17-year-olds, aiming for Spring 2027 implementation. A pilot program showed improved sleep and concentration, though social exclusion was a concern. This initiative builds on a trend of governmental intervention in young people’s digital lives, challenging platform designs and potentially reshaping the industry.

Meta is launching new parental controls for its platforms, allowing parents to oversee their teens’ interactions with AI characters. These tools will enable parents to disable AI chats, block specific characters, and view activity reports. The move follows increased scrutiny and an FTC inquiry into the potential risks of AI chatbots to young users, stemming from reports of inappropriate AI interactions with minors. Meta aims for a phased rollout of the controls starting early next year, following refinements to AI safety protocols already underway. OpenAI is also bolstering teen safety measures.

Meta Platforms is temporarily adjusting its AI chatbot policies to enhance safety for teen users, following lawmaker scrutiny over inappropriate interactions and potential risks. The changes include retraining chatbots to avoid sensitive topics like self-harm and romantic conversations, and directing teens to expert resources instead. These interim measures, prompted by reports of chatbots engaging in suggestive dialogues with minors, will be rolled out across apps in English-speaking countries. Critics argue the adjustments are insufficient, calling for a complete overhaul of Meta’s AI safety protocols.