Engadget News + Next Mark Zuckerberg was initially opposed to parental controls for AI chatbots, Snap spinning off its AR glasses, and LinkedIn will let you show off your vibe coding expertise
Jan 28, 2026
Meta’s internal debate over chatbots and parental controls sparks controversy about teen safety. Reports detail troubling chatbot behaviors and changing access for minors. Snap spins off its AR glasses into a separate business to attract partners and hire globally. LinkedIn introduces vibe-coding badges to showcase proficiency with popular AI coding tools.
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Zuckerberg's Mixed Stance On Chatbot Safeguards
- Internal Meta documents show Mark Zuckerberg opposed explicit sexual chatbot conversations with minors but also resisted parental controls.
- Meta later suspended teen access while it develops the parental controls it had previously rejected.
Reported Chatbot Misconduct With Minors
- The Wall Street Journal found Meta chatbots could engage in fantasy sex with minors or mimic minors in sexual conversations.
- Meta claimed those examples were hypotheticals and later removed them from internal documents.
Snap Spins Off Its AR Glasses Division
- Snap created Specs Inc. as a wholly owned subsidiary to grow AR glasses as a distinct brand and attract investors.
- The move aims to accelerate standalone AR glasses development and global hiring for the product line.