There is already a secure app for kids, it's called Signal. I'd say secure channels are what kids need and not constant parental surveillance. In my opinion, when you decide that kids are old enough to use a smartphone, you should teach them how to use it responsibly and not censor / snoop around unless they have a problem and ask for help.
Introducing Messenger Kids
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Re: Introducing Messenger Kids
#12>your child’s information isn’t used for ads I’ll translate: Your child’s information will be used, but not for ads.
Or maybe for ads, but not ads for your kid. Maybe you'll start to see lots of LEGO ads or whatever!
Re: Introducing Messenger Kids
#13> There are no ads in Messenger Kids and your child’s information isn’t used for ads. I do wonder what quantity of data Facebook will collect on child users of this service though, and how that could be used. I’m not too well versed in COPPA outside of account creation restrictions, but I would hope that it has provisions for data collection on children.
There you go... data shared with pretty much who they like (Within the mighty Fb group):
"Our vendors and service providers. We may transfer information we collect to third party service providers that support our business, such as companies that provide technical infrastructure or support (like a content delivery network), provide customer service, or analyze how Messenger Kids is being used to help us improve the service. These partners must adhere to strict data confidentiality and security obligations set out in the agreements we enter with them (such as compliance with data privacy and protection laws and maintenance of administrative, physical and technical safeguards to prevent unauthorized access or disclosure of data) that are consistent with this Privacy Policy, including obligations that they only use the information we provide for performance of the services we specify.
Facebook Family of Companies. Messenger Kids is part of Facebook, and we may share the information we collect in Messenger Kids within the family of companies that are part of Facebook to support the uses described above, and to improve the services provided by the FB family of companies. For example, parents use Facebook Messenger to communicate with their children on Messenger Kids, and Facebook uses information from Messenger Kids to support seamless cross-service communication."
https://www.facebook.com/help/118909212153483
(Edit for typo)
Re: Introducing Messenger Kids
#14Wow. Just like tobacco companies targeting kids[0] Facebook is making sure their targets get hooked even younger.
> After talking to thousands of parents, associations like National PTA, and parenting experts in the US
Which "parenting experts" are in favor of giving kids more time on electronics?
[0]: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/tobacco-companies...
Re: Introducing Messenger Kids
#15fuck this. i'm sorry i know this isn't language appropriate to hn but fuck this. does anyone believe this is really for the betterment of any child's life? say anything you want about how children use messenger apps now and this just improves that experience for them but accommodations aside that's basically the same excuse that drug dealers use - "they're going to get it from somewhere so they might as well get it f…
Exactly. This is due to the fact that young people have not embraced facebook and use other networks, it's their attempt to get into a demographic that's lost to them. I'd wager they'll have to keep shopping around to get the kids, the name and logo are tainted.
Re: Introducing Messenger Kids
#16Doesn't this contradict FB's terms and conditions [1]
I quote:
> You will not use Facebook if you are under 13.
Re: Introducing Messenger Kids
#17TLDR, Facebook wants your children to connect to you via a chat app. I'm more than saddened to see that among the tech giants, they are encouraging _children_ to just use face filters and video chatting, rather than encouraging them to go outside and interact with friends in person. Why does an app made specifically for children and families need filters at all? It doesn't really matter that they are not putting in a…
False dichotomy. It's not a choice between connecting in-person and via app; it's a choice between connecting with particular person via app or not spending time with them in any way.
Re: Introducing Messenger Kids
#18fuck this. i'm sorry i know this isn't language appropriate to hn but fuck this. does anyone believe this is really for the betterment of any child's life? say anything you want about how children use messenger apps now and this just improves that experience for them but accommodations aside that's basically the same excuse that drug dealers use - "they're going to get it from somewhere so they might as well get it f…
I actually agree with you that this is "drug dealer" tactics but for totally different reasons. I think this is a classic "the first hit is free" move.
It's a long-term play. I believe FB when they say they won't show ads to kids, or use their chats for ad scraping. What they really want is for those kids to become so familiar and dependent on the system (FB), that they naturally transition to being active FB users as adults.
It's not a secret that FB has a perceived "uncool with kids" problem - hence the rise of things like Snapchat. If you hook them when they're really young, though, then FB just becomes an unquestioned part of life.
As far as the tool itself, i dunno - I mean messenger tools have been a fact of life for quite some time now. AIM, ICQ, etc. I don't think FB messenger is particularly different other than the fact that it's attached to, well, FB.
Re: Introducing Messenger Kids
#19TLDR, Facebook wants your children to connect to you via a chat app. I'm more than saddened to see that among the tech giants, they are encouraging _children_ to just use face filters and video chatting, rather than encouraging them to go outside and interact with friends in person. Why does an app made specifically for children and families need filters at all? It doesn't really matter that they are not putting in a…
If Facebook doesn't do it someone else is going to do it.
Re: Introducing Messenger Kids
#20TLDR, Facebook wants your children to connect to you via a chat app. I'm more than saddened to see that among the tech giants, they are encouraging _children_ to just use face filters and video chatting, rather than encouraging them to go outside and interact with friends in person. Why does an app made specifically for children and families need filters at all? It doesn't really matter that they are not putting in a…
False dichotomy. It's not a choice between connecting in-person and via app; it's a choice between connecting with particular person via app or not spending time with them in any way.
what percentage of people that you keep in touch with over social media that aren't in your immediate vicinity?