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Big Kids

05th Dec 2017

Facebook launches Messenger app aimed at kids as young as 6

Would you download this?

Jade Hayden

facebook

Facebook has launched a Messenger app aimed at kids as young as six-years-old.

Messenger Kids is aimed at children under the age of 13 who are too young to avail of the social media app in general.

It will allow them to message and call their friends and family, however, only accounts approved by a parent’s Facebook account connected to Messenger Kids will be able to approve new contacts.

The app will also include stickers and gifs suitable for children as well as a Facebook moderation team on hand to deal with any inappropriate content.

The company has also said that users will not be able to access in-app purchases while using the app.

Although Messenger Kids was created to ensure that children under the age of 13 are safer online, some have criticised the app for encouraging children to set up social media accounts earlier than they should be.

For now, Messenger Kids is only available in the US, but if the app does well there it’s not unlikely that it could be launched in Ireland too.

So what do you think – do children need Facebook Messenger?