And, if you do decide to give them access, remember that the right monitoring tools, teamed with regular, honest and open communication about technology will go a long way towards keeping them safe online.The Messenger Kids app by Facebook is an ideal way to let your kids send messages and make video calls to other kids, while they are under the age of 13.
#Open messenger kids download
There’s no “right” age to start using chat applications, but now you understand more about how safe Messenger Kids is for your child, you’ll be able to make the most informed decision before hitting the download button. On the one hand, we live in a world where this type of interaction online is both normal and expected, while on the other, there are risks associated with digital communication which you may decide are not age appropriate: online harassment, trolling, and screen addiction. Their privacy policy states Facebook “ may share you or your child’s Personal Information for business purposes ”, but they do not state what these purposes are.Īdditionally, before downloading Messenger Kids, as a parent, you may want to ask yourself: “How young is too young?” It is up to you and your family to decide on the appropriate age for your child to engage with chat applications, and when to allow them their first taste of social media. As there are no in-app purchases, Facebook does not use your child’s data for targeted ads, but it’s unclear how they do use the data. However, when it comes to how Messenger Kids deals with your child’s personal data, the privacy policy is vague. As a parent, the app offers peace of mind, in that you can monitor your child’s conversations (except video chat) and encourage them to engage with technology in a positive manner. When looking at the safety of individual online interactions, Messenger Kids is a relatively safe space for children to chat to their friends and family. One way to combat this type of problem would be to create a list of rules and boundaries surrounding use of Messenger Kids, and to use a parental control tool to set screen time limits, encouraging your child to engage online in a healthy way.
While Messenger Kids is a much more restricted version of Facebook’s regular Messenger service, problems associated with social media use, such as addiction, could be a concern. This means you can talk to your child about the reasons why they decided to block someone if it happens, making it easier for you as a family to get to the root of the problem.Īs a parent, you might also hesitate to allow your child to use social media apps at a young age. One advantage of Messenger Kids in this sense is that your child can report or block users, and you’ll receive an alert when they do. While you can download your child’s chats at any point, the video functionality does not leave behind a recording, so you would never be able to witness your child’s videochat interactions, which could be concerning if they experienced bullying or harassment. While Messenger Kids only allows your child to chat to an approved list of contacts, harassment or bullying could come from someone they know.
As with any social application, parents should be aware that children using Messenger Kids could be at risk from cyberbullying, no matter their age.
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