Meta has announced it is pausing access to its AI characters for teens across all its apps worldwide, citing the need to develop a specially designed version tailored to younger users. The company clarified it is not abandoning the feature but is taking a step back to ensure a safer, age-appropriate experience. The move comes ahead of a high-profile trial in New Mexico, where Meta faces allegations of failing to protect children from sexual exploitation on its platforms. Just days before the trial begins, Meta has also reportedly sought to limit the discovery of evidence related to the impact of social media on teen mental health. This pause on AI characters follows earlier efforts to improve teen safety. In October, Meta introduced new parental controls for AI interactions, modeled after the PG-13 movie rating system. These controls restricted access to topics such as extreme violence, nudity, and graphic drug use. The company had also previewed tools allowing parents to monitor conversations, block specific AI characters, and completely disable AI chat features for teens. Despite these plans, Meta has now taken a more cautious approach, halting all teen access to AI characters until a revised, safer version is ready. The pause will apply to users who have indicated a teen birthday, as well as those flagged as likely teens through Meta’s age prediction technology. The company said it listened to feedback from parents who wanted greater transparency and control over how their teens interact with AI. When the updated teen-focused AI characters launch, they will include built-in parental controls and be designed to provide age-appropriate responses focused on topics like education, sports, and hobbies. Meta emphasized that the new version will prioritize safety and align with its broader efforts to protect young users. The decision reflects growing regulatory and public scrutiny of how social media and AI platforms handle teen safety. Beyond the New Mexico case, Meta is also preparing for a separate trial next week, in which it is accused of fostering social media addiction. CEO Mark Zuckerberg is expected to testify. Other AI companies have also responded to similar concerns. In October, Character.AI banned open-ended conversations with AI chatbots for users under 18 and began developing interactive stories for younger audiences. OpenAI has implemented new safety rules for ChatGPT, including age-based content restrictions and user age prediction to enforce them. Meta’s latest move underscores the increasing pressure on tech companies to adapt AI features for minors, balancing innovation with responsibility.