The social network Facebook announced on Monday the release of a version of the Messenger application aimed at children, in order to provide more security for this audience.
Messenger Kids will work in much the same way as the traditional app, but users will only be able to send GIFs appropriate for their age and will work within an ad-free environment and with an account previously installed by their parents. In addition, parents can add or delete contacts from their child’s account.
Failure to play ads on Messenger Kids means that Facebook will barely collect information from those users. The application will show previous messages for each conversation and display the users with whom there is a higher relationship at the top of the contact list.
The company explained that it paid special attention to the installation of tools to detect abusive content on this platform.
Unlike the traditional version of Facebook, those under 13 will not have accounts associated with the application. The company’s current policy does not allow minors of that age to have accounts.
The decision of the company to create this version of Messenger is due to the volume of children who use tablets and smartphones. It is estimated that more than 90% of children between the ages of six and 12 have access to tablets and smartphones, according to figures from the Dubit consulting firm.
“In our research, there is always one issue that stands out: parents want to know who they have control of. They want a certain level of control over their digital world that is similar to the level they have in the real world,” said Antigone Davis, principal global Facebook security.