Meta has announced the launch of a new AI-powered feature that will notify parents if their teenage children’s conversations with Meta AI indicate signs of self-harm or suicidal thoughts, as part of its efforts to expand safety measures for young users on its platforms.

Automatic Alerts and Support for Teenagers
 

Meta explained that its AI assistant will automatically direct teenagers to appropriate support services when it detects conversations related to self-harm or suicide, and encourages them to reach out to a trusted adult for assistance.

With the new update, parents or guardians will receive a proactive notification if a teenager may be at risk, along with a set of guidelines and resources to help them handle the situation and support their children appropriately.

The company confirmed that it has developed an AI system to monitor these conversations, but all cases identified by the system will undergo human review before any alert is sent, in order to minimize false alarms. However, Meta will still prefer to send a notification if there is any doubt about a potential risk.

The feature is currently available for users who rely on parental supervision through Instagram in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, with plans to expand it globally before the end of the year.

New feature for emergency services

Meta also revealed that it is working on developing a feature that allows connecting to emergency services if user conversations with Meta AI show an imminent risk of self-harm, whether the user is a minor or an adult.

The company has also expanded its “Restricted Content” setting to include AI interactions, so activating this option by parents limits the smart assistant's response to sensitive topics such as content related to self-harm or inappropriate material, providing an additional level of protection for teenagers.