Facebook presents a messenger for six to twelve year olds
Facebook has presented a special version of its Messenger app for children - it allows parents to control their offspring's network contacts. As the US company announced on Monday, the new app is intended for six to twelve-year-olds.
Parents can check their children's contact list. They can only communicate with someone if the parents authorize this.
The software was developed because many children have been joining social networks without protection, the online giant explained. There is a need for a messenger app that gives parents the "degree of control" they want over their children's contacts, explained Product Manager Loren Cheng.
Facebook cited a study according to which 93% of six to twelve-year-olds in the USA have access to a smartphone or tablet computer. According to the study, two thirds own such a device themselves.
The Facebook rules stipulate that a user must be at least 13 years old to set up their own account. However, it can be assumed that this rule is often circumvented.
The new "Messenger Kids" app is initially being tested in the USA on Apple devices. It enables children to exchange text messages as well as communicate via video. (SDA)