• Latest
  • Trending
Fake traffic officer learnership ad hits social networks

Messenger app for kids by Facebook

December 5, 2017
Mkhwebane threatens high court challenge to quash perjury charges

Mkhwebane threatens high court challenge to quash perjury charges

January 21, 2021
Mabuza to lead fight against Covid-19 and provide vaccines to citizens

Mabuza to lead fight against Covid-19 and provide vaccines to citizens

January 21, 2021
Zimbabweans saddened after Foreign Affairs Minister succumbs to COVID-19

Zimbabweans saddened after Foreign Affairs Minister succumbs to COVID-19

January 21, 2021
DA prepares for early Federal Congress in 2020

DA challenges Ramaphosa over ‘unconstitutional’ COVID-19 vaccine issues

January 18, 2021
How do we prevent violence in SA schools?

Union raises concerns over teachers returning to schools early

January 18, 2021
Health authorities concerned about increase in COVID-19 deaths in North West

Health authorities concerned about increase in COVID-19 deaths in North West

January 18, 2021

Egypt expects COVID-19 vaccines from GAVI alliance within weeks: minister

January 12, 2021
Pretoria restaurant owner demands back the confiscated alcohol

The sale of alcohol will continue to be prohibited: Ramaphosa

January 12, 2021
Ramaphosa’ new cabinet

SA remains on Alert Level 3, government to embark on a massive vaccination programme

January 11, 2021
Ramaphosa’ new cabinet

SA moves to an adjusted Level 3 lockdown

December 28, 2020
Limpopo shack saga suspects granted bail

Limpopo shack saga suspects granted bail

December 24, 2020
South Africans studying in the UK left stranded after travel restrictions announcement

South Africans studying in the UK left stranded after travel restrictions announcement

December 24, 2020
  • Latest
    • Community
    • Africa
    • International
  • Sport
  • Business
    • Finance
    • Technology
    • Motoring
  • People
    • Opinions
    • Health
  • Politics
  • Media
    • Entertaiment
    • Social Media
    • Media
  • Public Statement
Wednesday, January 27, 2021
  • Login
TP
  • Latest
    • Community
    • Africa
    • International
  • Sport
  • Business
    • Finance
    • Technology
    • Motoring
  • People
    • Opinions
    • Health
  • Politics
  • Media
    • Entertaiment
    • Social Media
    • Media
  • Public Statement
No Result
View All Result
  • Latest
    • Community
    • Africa
    • International
  • Sport
  • Business
    • Finance
    • Technology
    • Motoring
  • People
    • Opinions
    • Health
  • Politics
  • Media
    • Entertaiment
    • Social Media
    • Media
  • Public Statement
No Result
View All Result
TownPress
No Result
View All Result
Home Social Media

Messenger app for kids by Facebook

December 5, 2017
inSocial Media
0
Fake traffic officer learnership ad hits social networks
162
SHARES
798
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

New York – Facebook is coming for your kids.

The social media giant is launching a messaging app for children to chat with their parents and with friends approved by their parents.

The free app is aimed at kids under 13, who can’t yet have their own accounts under Facebook’s rules, though they often do.

Messenger Kids comes with a slew of controls for parents.

The service won’t let children add their own friends or delete messages – only parents can do that.

Kids don’t get a separate Facebook or Messenger account; rather, it’s an extension of a parent’s account.

Messenger Kids came out Monday in the US as an app for Apple devices – the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch. Versions for Android and Amazon’s tablets are coming later.

A KIDS-FOCUSED EXPERIENCE

While children do use messaging and social media apps designed for teenagers and adults, those services aren’t built for them, said Kristelle Lavallee, a children’s psychology expert who advised Facebook on designing the service.

“The risk of exposure to things they were not developmentally prepared for is huge,” she said.

Messenger Kids, meanwhile, “is a result of seeing what kids like,” which is images, emoji and the like. Face filters and playful masks can be distracting for adults, Lavallee said, but for kids who are just learning how to form relationships and stay in touch with parents digitally, they are ways to express themselves.

Lavallee, who is content strategist at the Center on Media and Child Health at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard University, called Messenger Kids a “useful tool” that “makes parents the gatekeepers”. But she said that while Facebook made the app “with the best of intentions,” it’s not yet known how people will actually use it.

As with other tools Facebook has released in the past, intentions and real-world use do not always match up. Facebook’s live video streaming feature, for example, has been used for plenty of innocuous and useful things, but also to stream crimes and suicides.

HOOKED ON FACEBOOK

Is Messenger Kids simply a way for Facebook to rope in the young ones?

Stephen Balkam, CEO of the nonprofit Family Online Safety Institute, said “that train has left the station”.

Federal law prohibits internet companies from collecting personal information on kids under 13 without their parents’ permission and imposes restrictions on advertising to them. This is why Facebook and many other social media companies prohibit younger kids from joining. Even so, Balkam said millions of kids under 13 are already on Facebook, with or without their parents’ approval.

He said Facebook is trying to deal with the situation pragmatically by steering young Facebook users to a service designed for them.

MARKETING MATTERS

Facebook said Messenger Kids won’t show ads or collect data for marketing, though it will collect some data it says are necessary to run the service. Facebook also said it won’t automatically move users to the regular Messenger or Facebook when they get old enough, though the company might give them the option to move contacts to Messenger down the line.

James Steyer, CEO of the kids-focused non-profit group Common Sense, said that while he liked the idea of a messaging app that requires parental sign-ups, many questions remain. Among them: Will it always remain ad-free, and will parents get ads based on the service?

“Why should parents simply trust that Facebook is acting in the best interest of kids?” Steyer said in a statement. “We encourage Facebook to clarify their policies from the start so that it is perfectly clear what parents are signing up for.”

Comments

Tags: Boston Children's HospitalfacebookFacebook MessegerJames SteyerStephen Balkam
Share66Tweet40Share11Share16Send
Previous Post

A Motswako Tribute to DJ Zondi

Next Post

Funeral Greed and Looting at Tata last days.

Next Post
Funeral Greed and Looting at Tata last days.

Funeral Greed and Looting at Tata last days.

Please login to join discussion
No Result
View All Result
Currently Playing

SAElections2019 Indelible Ink & Election Fraud

SAElections2019 Indelible Ink & Election Fraud

00:01:40

Why would Mampintsha assault Babes Wodumo?

00:00:40

Alph Lukau “raising the dead” is a fraud

00:01:36

Moozlie Mabena involved in a live video crash

00:00:58

Welkom Hijack Man shot in parking lot

00:01:04

Female theft suspects tries to evade guards at Clear Water Mall

00:01:48

Franchise Driver on duty with sex worker

00:00:47

Courageous female driver attack hjackers on driveway

00:01:33

University of Zululand Student stabbed to death by roommate

00:00:41

Vehicle High Jacking on Cedar road, Midrand

00:01:57

Watch thief steal a Hilux in Bloemfontein

00:01:05

Watch Mosque Shoe snatchers in action

00:00:43

Watch these Unbelievable Shoplifters Caught with the Loot

00:03:13

Journalist attacked by EFF Floyd Shivambu and security details

00:00:43

Attempted cash in transit heist by DSTV office in Randburg

00:00:48

KFM Presenters and the Three Rs Blunder

00:00:59

SAPS Higspeed chase

00:01:08

Ruthless home invaders in westrand

00:01:30

Dj Khomza bashes girlfriend with a spanner

00:01:56

Daybreak Robbery in Auckland Park

00:01:15

Fake Police arrested in Johannesburg

00:01:00

#MduduziManana assault video at Cubana

00:00:29

Racial assault of couple at KFC montana

00:01:22

Smart Porsche driver escapes hijackers in Johannesburg

00:00:49

VW Polo Hijack at Kempton Park filling station

00:02:13

Women caught husband cheating and jumps on Carhood

00:02:02

Carlton Centre, Joburg Heist

00:01:06

Did Malema call Mandela a Sellout ?

00:02:01

Petrol Attendant beat up a man

00:01:01

Car Hijack gone wrong

00:02:15

Armed robbery in Alberton

00:00:52

Mother and son in Polokwane attacked by panga wielding robbers

00:02:04

Hyundai i10 Hijacking in Chatsworth

00:00:59

Check more Videos on Youtube

Connect

Connect
TownPress

Copyright © 2020 Townpress.

Navigate Site

  • Terms and conditions
  • About Us
  • Subscription
  • Contact
  • Account

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Latest
    • Community
    • Africa
    • International
  • Sport
  • Business
    • Finance
    • Technology
    • Motoring
  • People
    • Opinions
    • Health
  • Politics
  • Media
    • Entertaiment
    • Social Media
    • Media
  • Public Statement

Copyright © 2020 Townpress.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist

Go to mobile version
This site uses cookies to improve user experience: Find out more.