Meta has announced it will introduce new parental controls on Instagram early next year, aimed at providing parents with greater oversight and management of how their teenage children interact with the platform’s AI features. This move addresses growing concerns about the safety of young users as generative AI becomes more integrated into mainstream social media platforms.
New Tools for Parental Oversight
The upcoming features will grant parents a significant level of control over their teen’s AI experiences. Parents will have the ability to completely block access to one-on-one chats with AI characters. Alternatively, for a more nuanced approach, they can choose to block specific AI characters while allowing others. Furthermore, the new tools will provide parents with insights into the topics their teens are discussing with AI assistants, enabling more informed conversations about online safety and digital literacy.
Building on Existing Safeguards
These new controls are an extension of Meta’s existing safety measures for young users. The company has already implemented protections that restrict teens’ access to certain AI characters and apply filters designed to keep conversations within a PG-13-style rating. The AI systems are also built to prevent discussions around sensitive and harmful topics such as self-harm, suicide, or eating disorders, and are designed to direct teens to expert resources when appropriate. Meta also utilizes its own AI technology to identify users it suspects are teens, even if they have misstated their age, and automatically applies these enhanced protections.
Relevance for the MENA Region
While the initial rollout is planned for English-speaking markets, these developments hold significant implications for the MENA region. With one of the world’s youngest populations and rapid social media penetration, platforms like Instagram are central to the lives of millions of teenagers across the Middle East and North Africa. As AI integration accelerates, the safety standards set by global tech giants like Meta create a benchmark for regional platforms and startups. This move will likely prompt a broader discussion among MENA’s tech leaders, policymakers, and parents about the need for localized, culturally-aware digital safety tools to protect the region’s youth in an increasingly AI-driven world.
About Meta
Meta builds technologies that help people connect, find communities, and grow businesses. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward immersive experiences like augmented and virtual reality to help build the next evolution in social technology.
Source: Tech in Asia
