Facebook has begun rolling out a new app called Messenger Kids, that will allow children under thirteen years of age to communicate with each other or their parents in a controlled manner.
While most social-networking sites and apps, including Facebook, require users to be over thirteen years of age, there seems to be a need among parents to let younger children communicate with their friends in a controlled manner. Facebook has now decided to make this possible with the Messenger Kids app that is now rolling out in the US.
Parents can now create profiles for their children through their own account and then configure it on kids’ phones or tablets in the Messenger Kids app. The child’s profile and friends will be controlled using the parent’s Facebook account.
Facebook has revealed that it has worked with many parents, advisors and child safety professionals to develop the application. The company has also been in discussions with organizations such as the National PTA and Blue Star Families for coming up with the parental controls and decide the approach for a digital platform for children. An important point to note is that Facebook has promised that it won’t be collecting the children’s data for ad targeting or marketing purposes, unlike the adult version of the app.
From features point-of-view, the Messenger Kids app doesn’t seem too different from the standard Messenger app. Children can chat using text, audio or video using the app. It also supports image filters and emoji, picked appropriately for kids.
In order to setup Messenger Kids for your child, you can follow the steps mentioned below:
Facebook is currently rolling out the app for iOS users in the US, while the Android version is expected to launch soon. There is no word about expanding the availability of the app to other countries at the moment.
Source: Facebook
