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Facebook Launches Messenger Kids in More Than 70 Countries as Children Continue to Stay at Home
Many kids and their families stay at home due to the coronavirus pandemic. Because of this, Facebook is launching new tools on its Messenger app that are geared toward kids.
Facebook announced the launch of Messenger Kids. It's “an app with parental controls that lets children between the ages of 6 through 12 send text messages and have video chats,” as per Fox Business. It is available in more than 70 countries.
“For years, we’ve worked closely with Facebook’s Youth Advisors, a team of experts in online safety, child development and media, to help shape the Messenger Kids app. And we continue to consult our Youth Advisors, including Safer Internet Day creator Janice Richardson and Agent of Change Foundation chairman Wayne Chau, to ensure we’re providing a service that balances parental control with features that let kids learn how to connect responsibly online,” said Antigone Davis, Global Head of Safety at Facebook.
Expanding Messenger Kids to More Countries and Adding New Features https://t.co/UeUAqaiXnR pic.twitter.com/ukMb3fFo4Y
— Meta Newsroom (@MetaNewsroom) April 22, 2020
Parents will be able to monitor their child’s social media activity. They do so as the children interact with friends, family members, teachers, and coaches online. Also, they will get notifications about the Messenger friends their children are approving. They can overrule their children through the Parent Dashboard.
More than this, parents will be able to approve an adult to monitor their kid's group chat.
Fox Business reported that the company’s kids’ messaging service received backlash in the past. “Last year, a glitch enabled kids to make group chats with others that were not approved by their parents. The error garnered the attention of Congress last year. Senators then udged Facebook to practice better privacy and security,” said the report.
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