Snapchat is offering new parental controls that allow parents to block their teenagers from interacting with the app’s myAI chatbot. The move comes after concerns were raised about the safety of young people using the tool. If parents choose to deactivate the tool, teens will still be able to message myAI, but the chatbot will respond with a message stating that it has been disabled.
This update is part of a series of additions to Snapchat’s parental oversight tool, Family Center. In addition to blocking interactions with myAI, parents now have visibility into their teens’ safety and privacy settings. They can see who their child shares their Stories posts with, who can contact their child on the app, and whether their child is sharing their location on the live “Snap Map” feature.
Snapchat introduced myAI in April, but it faced concerns from parents about whether it was appropriate for their children to communicate with a highly personalized computer chatbot. However, Snapchat assured users that myAI had protections in place to prevent inappropriate or harmful responses, as well as temporary usage restrictions for users who misuse the service repeatedly.
The company has been actively working on improving youth safety on its platform. In September, Snapchat implemented a “strike system” to address accounts promoting content unsuitable for teens. These measures aim to create a safer environment for young users while still respecting their privacy.
Snap CEO Evan Spiegel is scheduled to appear at a Senate subcommittee hearing later this month to discuss youth safety on social media. Executives from Meta, TikTok, X, and Discord will also participate in the hearing. Snapchat’s updates to its parental controls demonstrate the company’s commitment to addressing concerns and ensuring the well-being of its younger users.