Meta has announced a series of new safety features aimed at protecting teenagers who use Meta AI, including a system that will notify parents when conversations indicate a possible risk of suicide or self-harm. The new measures are designed to help ensure that teens receive appropriate support while keeping parents informed when serious concerns arise.
Under the new initiative, parents who use Instagram’s parental supervision tools will receive alerts if Meta AI detects signs that their teen may be experiencing emotional distress or discussing self-harm. Meta said the detection system was developed with input from mental health experts and is designed to identify both direct and subtle references to self-injury or suicide. Before any alert is sent, flagged conversations will undergo human review to help ensure accuracy.
The feature is now available in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada for families using Instagram supervision tools, with a global rollout planned by the end of the year. Meta said the alerts will also include guidance and resources to help parents approach sensitive conversations with their children and connect them with appropriate support services.
In addition to notifying parents, Meta is developing new capabilities that could allow the company to alert emergency services when a conversation suggests an individual is at immediate risk of suicide. The initiative expands on existing practices used across Facebook and Instagram, where credible reports of suicide risk are referred to first responders. According to Meta, more than 19,000 such referrals were made worldwide last year.
The company also revealed that it has consulted more than 75 mental health clinicians to improve how Meta AI responds to discussions involving suicide and self-harm. These experts reviewed hundreds of AI-generated responses and provided recommendations to ensure conversations are handled with greater sensitivity, including acknowledging a teen’s feelings while encouraging them to seek help from trusted adults or professional support services.
Meta further announced that its stricter “Limited Content” setting for teen accounts will now apply to Meta AI chats. The setting is designed to restrict a wider range of potentially sensitive or inappropriate conversations, creating a safer AI experience for younger users. The company said these updates reflect its ongoing commitment to youth well-being, online safety, and responsible AI development.