Meta is changing how it trains its AI chatbots to protect teens after a Reuters report exposed shaky safeguards. The company is now making sure its bots won’t engage with teens on self-harm, suicide, eating disorders, or inappropriate romance. These are temporary fixes—Meta promises stronger, longer-term safety updates soon.
Meta spokesperson Stephanie Otway admitted these chats used to be allowed, which the company now sees as a mistake.
Stephanie Otway stated: 
“As our community grows and technology evolves, we’re continually learning about how young people may interact with these tools and strengthening our protections accordingly.”
“As we continue to refine our systems, we’re adding more guardrails as an extra precaution — including training our AIs not to engage with teens on these topics, but to guide them to expert resources, and limiting teen access to a select group of AI characters for now. These updates are already in progress, and we will continue to adapt our approach to help ensure teens have safe, age-appropriate experiences with AI.”
Meta will also limit teen access to some user-created AI characters on Instagram and Facebook. This includes sexualized bots like “Step Mom” and “Russian Girl.” Teens will only get access to AI characters focused on education and creativity for now.
The news comes two weeks after a Reuters investigation revealed an internal Meta policy that allowed chatbots to engage in sexual conversations with minors. One quoted line: “Your youthful form is a work of art.” The exposé triggered a probe by Senator Josh Hawley and a letter from 44 state attorneys general condemning the company.
Otway declined to say how many minors use Meta’s chatbot or if these changes will shrink its young user base.
The company says these safety improvements are interim and that bigger changes are coming.
