🛡 Meta Expands AI Safety Features for Teens

Meta is introducing new safety measures for Meta AI as more teenagers turn to AI chatbots for advice and emotional support.

The biggest update is a new parental alert system.

If Meta AI detects that a teenager's conversation may indicate a risk of suicide or self-harm, it will automatically notify the parent connected through Instagram's parental supervision tools. The notification also includes links to support resources and encourages the teen to speak with a trusted adult.

According to studies cited by Meta:

➡️ 1 in 8 teenagers and young adults in the U.S. have used AI chatbots for mental health advice.

➡️ 72% of teens have tried AI companions.

➡️ 12% have used AI chatbots for emotional or mental health support.

Meta says the system was developed with mental health experts and is designed to prioritize safety, even if that means sending more alerts.

The company is also expanding its emergency response system.

If Meta AI believes that any user, regardless of age, may be at immediate risk of suicide, it can notify emergency services. Meta already uses a similar process for high-risk posts on Facebook and Instagram, making more than 19,000 referrals last year.

These updates follow criticism that some of Meta's AI chatbots previously engaged in inappropriate conversations with minors. Meta has since introduced stricter protections, including age-appropriate AI responses, restrictions on sensitive topics, and parental visibility into how teens use Meta AI.

As AI becomes a more common place for people to ask questions and seek advice, platforms are starting to treat chatbots less like search engines and more like services that require dedicated safety systems.

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