Facebook today announced a new version of its Messenger chat app targeting children designed for children ages six to 12. The app is called called Messenger Kids, and there will be no need for your kid to open up Facebook account — it should be noted that federal laws, in most countries don’t allow children under the age of 13 cannot legally sign up for Facebook. Facebook is launching the app today in preview with a limited rollout on iOS.
Facebook is quick to point out that there are no ads in Messenger Kids and your child’s information isn’t used for ads. As expected, the app is free to download and there are no in-app purchases, according to Facebook in a blog post. Facebook says Messenger Kids is also designed to be compliant with the Children’s Online Privacy and Protection Act, or COPPA. That’s the federal law that protects underage children from exploitation online, and it’s the reason so many online services require children be 13 years of age or older in order to sign up. Facebook says the new app is only available in the US, with plans to expand its availability beyond iOS to the Amazon App Store and Google Play Store in the coming months.
Messenger Kids is primarily designed to offer video and text chat along with the types of playful masks and filters, originally popularized by Snapchat, that are now prevalent across Facebook’s many messaging products. Facebook says there is a “library of kid-appropriate and specially chosen GIFs, frames, stickers, masks and drawing tools lets them decorate content and express their personalities.” The app also gives parents the ability to control a child’s contact list, while a more spartan home screen shows pre-approved friends that are online and preexisting one-on-one chats and group threads.
