Facebook's Messenger Kids app allows children under 13 years of age use parent-controlled Messenger accounts
Facebook recently launched a test preview of Messenger Kids, an app that allows parents to set up controlled Messenger accounts for children. The app aims to create an experience like Facebook Messenger for kids, ideally in an environment that is strictly used for communication.
Kids do not need a fully-featured Facebook account to use the app. Children under the age of 13 cannot legally sign up for Facebook anyway, so the kids' Messenger accounts are tied to the parent's account.
After downloading the app, parents need to authenticate their children's devices by inputting their username and password. The parents will then be prompted to create a Messenger Kids account for their kid.
The signup process needs nothing more than the name of the child. After this, the device can be handed back to the child, and they can start chatting by using Messenger Kids.
Messenger Kids does little else other than to allow text chat with approved contacts, although it does offer video and group chat. "Kid-appropriate" emoji, masks, and sound effects are also included in the app.
Relatives and friends with Facebook accounts can try to add children's account to their contacts. However, the parent's approval is needed before their names can actually appear on the authorized contact list.
Messenger Kids takes these steps to put the parent in total control of the children's messenger account. Facebook is careful about the development of the app as it has the potential to be exploitative — it may be used as a gateway for predators and other entities that intend to cause the children harm.
The app also makes sure that it complies with the Children's Online Privacy and Protection Act. This is a law that is designed to protect kids from online exploitation. It is also because of this law that children under 13 years of age cannot legally have a fully-featured Facebook account.
Messenger Kids is free to download. The current preview is limited to iOS users in the United States, but Facebook intends to launch the app for Amazon and Google Play sometime in the future. The app does not contain ads and is free of in-app purchases.
