Meta has globally paused the use of AI characters by teenage users across all its applications, citing plans to develop a dedicated teen version with built-in parental control features. This move follows recent lawsuits, including one in New Mexico, which accused Meta of failing to protect minors from sexual exploitation. The company stated that this pause will affect users identified as teenagers and will continue until the development of new versions focused on themes suitable for the teenage age group, such as education and sports, is completed. Meanwhile, social media and AI platforms are under increasing regulatory scrutiny regarding teen safety.