Facebook launches Messenger Kids on Android amid widespread criticism
What's the story
Facebook has launched its Messenger Kids app on Android amid heavy criticism from industry leaders and development experts. Children's advocates are pressing the company to shut down the app claiming that it could lure kids into harmful social media practices and also expressing concern over Facebook gathering children's personal data. The app has been available on iOS since December and on Amazon since January.
Quote
Disturbing how Facebook is aggressively marketing the app: Pro-children organization
"It is disturbing that Facebook, in the face of widespread concern, is aggressively marketing Messenger Kids to even more children," a US-based pro-children organization called Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood said to a media outlet.
Response
Children's data won't be used for advertising purposes: Facebook
However, Facebook remains adamant. The company says it has ensured that Messenger Kids is age-appropriate and focused on privacy. It maintains that no child's personal data will be used for advertising purposes. Even though Facebook claimed the app has been developed after concurring with a board of veteran advisors, a report has revealed that half the safety board has financial ties with the company.
Intention
Is this merely a secure chat platform for children?
According to Facebook, children anyway are exposed to social media today. So it is safer that they get on an app that is secure and controlled by their parents than going on chat platforms that are harder to monitor. Interestingly, by being on Messenger Kids, children are also being set up to continue using Facebook once they're old enough to create a proper account.
The App
Parents can control a child's contact list on the app
Messenger Kids is designed for children aged between 6 and 12. The standalone app can be controlled by a parent's Facebook app and used on a child's own device without having to create a separate Facebook account for the child. Parents can control who their kids can safely communicate with through features like written and video chats. The app doesn't contain ads.