Meta Unveils 18+ Muse Charm as Tamagotchi-Like AI Device Draws Child and Privacy Backlash
Updated
Updated · Ynetnews · Sep 29
Meta Unveils 18+ Muse Charm as Tamagotchi-Like AI Device Draws Child and Privacy Backlash
3 articles · Updated · Ynetnews · Sep 29
Summary
Meta’s Muse Charm — a keychain-style AI gadget due in December — is facing criticism that its toy-like mascot and Tamagotchi-inspired design could attract children despite Muse being limited to users 18 and older.
Critics say the device goes beyond a simple digital pet: it supports extended voice conversations, remembers user information and presents an empathetic persona, which child-safety groups warn could foster emotional attachment among minors.
Privacy concerns center on the Charm’s built-in camera and microphones, which feed real-time data to Meta’s AI and could capture not only owners’ conversations and images but also nearby people who did not consent.
Meta rejects claims it is targeting children, saying users must provide a date of birth and pass additional age checks, while also saying people can opt out of having Muse interactions used to train its AI models.
The backlash lands against Meta’s longer history of scrutiny over addictive product design for younger users, sharpening concern that a cute, frictionless AI companion could normalize always-on data collection.