Social media juggernaut Facebook has unveiled a new messenger service, Messenger Kids where children between the ages of six and 12 can message their friends via their parent’s Facebook account.
Facebook says they have launched this new chatting platform so parents are able to monitor their children’s online activity especially for those who have created an account behind their parents back.
Facebook allows for parents to fully control the contact list and allows to can contact their kids. It says the messages don’t disappear and cannot be hidden so parents have full access to messages.
On its website Facebook says, “Messenger Kids is a free video calling and messaging app designed for kids to connect with close friends and family from their tablet or smartphone. Kids can only connect with parent-approved contacts, which creates a more controlled environment. Group or one-on-one video calls with loved ones are more fun with interactive masks, reactions and sound effects.”
Facebook says, “There are no ads in Messenger Kids and your child’s information isn’t used for ads. It is free to download and there are no in-app purchases. Messenger Kids is also designed to be compliant with the Children’s Online Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA).
“This preview of Messenger Kids is only available in the US at this time on the Apple App Store, and will be coming to Amazon App Store and Google Play Store in the coming months. We’ve worked extensively with parents and families to shape Messenger Kids and we’re looking forward to learning and listening as more children and families start to use the iOS preview.”
Facebook has noted a four step process to get a child’s account started:
However, with this launch a lot of people are sceptical about the platform saying they do not think it is as safe as Facebook says.
Don’t be fooled about Facebook’s Messenger Kids. It’s not ‘benevolent’ or ‘neutral’, but something to be very concerned about. 1/n
— Paul Bernal (@PaulbernalUK) December 5, 2017
Facebook Messenger Kids, brought to you by the platform that allowed the Russians to steal the U.S. election.
— Alexia Bonatsos (@alexia) December 5, 2017
FACEBOOK IS CREATING A PAGE AND MESSENGER APP JUST FOR KIDS UNDER 13!!!! HELL NO GO PLAY OUTSIDE AND USE YOUR IMAGINATION. You got me messed up if you think I’m letting me kids have an electronic device before they are able to stay home by themselves
— Mom (@kwett_) December 5, 2017
It is available in the US now but Facebook has not said whether or not it will come to Aussie shores but my money is already betting an early 2018 release.
