In a move that might have parents raising their eyebrows, Facebook recently launched a messenger app designed exclusively for children under 13. Dubbed Messenger Kids, this application aims to capture a slice of the social media landscape dominated by Snapchat and YouTube by offering a “kid-friendly” version of its messaging platform. Before you grant your little ones free reign over this app, there are several important considerations to keep in mind.
Understanding Messenger Kids
First and foremost, due to the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), major tech companies have generally avoided creating apps that collect personal information from minors without parental consent. Messenger Kids cleverly navigates this legal landscape by requiring parental approval before children can use the app, which is set up under a parent’s Facebook account.
So, how does Messenger Kids function? It stands alone as a separate app available on various platforms, including smartphones, tablets, and the Kindle Fire. According to Facebook, the app is designed to facilitate safe video chats and messaging between kids and their friends and family when in-person interactions aren’t possible. Once set up, children can add friends (with parental consent) and engage in video calls, send pictures, or text chat. Similar to Snapchat, Messenger Kids also offers a library of fun filters, GIFs, stickers, and drawing tools for kids to personalize their messages and express themselves.
Information Requirements
What kind of information does Facebook require from your child? To create a profile, parents must input their child’s full name, which may raise concerns for some. Parents can also create multiple profiles if they have more than one child using the app. These profiles enable kids to connect with friends and family, but each friend request must be approved by an adult through the parent portal.
Ads and Data Collection
As for ads, Messenger Kids is free from advertisements or in-app purchases, with Facebook’s product director, Mike Johnson, asserting that the company will not use children’s information for marketing purposes. However, it’s worth noting that Facebook can still target ads to adults based on their child’s activities on the app—a potential red flag.
Data collection and privacy are critical issues that warrant careful consideration. Since Messenger Kids is part of the broader Facebook ecosystem, it’s likely that the app collects extensive data about users, which can be shared across Facebook’s various services. The privacy policy highlights that it collects your child’s full name, messages, videos, audio, and interaction data, all of which will be stored indefinitely for future use. This means that when children turn 13, Facebook will have a ready-made profile for them, complete with their friends. If a parent decides to delete their child’s Messenger account, the content shared may still remain visible to others.
Concerns from Advocates
Due to past privacy issues, Messenger Kids raises concerns among advocates for children’s online safety. Alex Thompson, CEO of Safe Kids Media, urges Facebook to commit publicly to keeping the app free of advertisements and to avoid grooming children for adult accounts later on. It’s critical for the company to maintain transparency regarding privacy and marketing practices.
Initially, Facebook claimed that extensive research and discussions with child development experts, parents, and educators helped shape the app, ensuring its safety for tech-savvy youth. However, some wonder if this new children’s platform is merely a stepping stone to convert millions of kids into future Facebook users. For now, I plan to exercise caution regarding software that has the potential to track and save my child’s online interactions for years to come.
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Conclusion
In summary, while Messenger Kids appears to provide a safe platform for children to connect with friends and family, it raises significant concerns about data collection, privacy, and the potential for future advertising practices. Parents must weigh these factors carefully before allowing their children to engage with the app.
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