Facebook is launching a preview of its new Messenger Kids app in the US. This preview is available
Facebook said it built its first app for kids after conducting a study with thousands of parents and engaging with over a dozen expert advisors in the areas of child development, online safety, and children’s media and technology. The company said it also talked with organisations like National PTA and Blue Star Families around topics of responsible online communication, parental controls, and much more. And for the past several months, many families at Messenger and Facebook have used the app and helped come up with some of the key features like the easy-to-use parental controls.
Messenger Kids is full of features for kids to connect with people. Once their account is set up by a parent, kids can start a one-on-one or group video chat with parent-approved contacts. The home screen shows them at a glance who they are approved to talk to, and when those contacts are online. The app also features playful masks, emojis and sound effects. In addition to video chat, kids can send photos, videos or text messages to their parent-approved friends and adult relatives, who will receive the messages via their regular Messenger app.
