Meta Pauses AI Characters for Teens Globally Amid Safety Concerns

• Meta has temporarily suspended teen access to AI characters across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp due to safety concerns.
• The decision follows pressure from advocacy groups and regulators, prioritizing parental oversight and child safety.
• Meta is rebuilding its AI character experience from the ground up to include stronger protections and parental controls.
• The restriction applies to accounts with declared teen ages and those Meta suspects belong to minors using age-prediction technology.
• Teens can still use Meta's general AI assistant for help and education, with age-appropriate protections in place.

Why It Matters: Meta halts AI characters for teens globally, acknowledging risks and prioritizing child safety with new parental controls.