With the advances in technology it is currently possible to find many applications that are focused on children, from games to educational apps that help reinforce certain learning. Although many parents try to avoid it, today it is almost impossible for children to have used a tablet or smartphone at least once in their life.
Now and thinking about creating a messaging option for children, Facebook joins the list of companies that has launched an application for children with Messenger Kids, we explain what it is.
This week the social media giant announced the presentation of a new messaging application for children from 6 years old, with the goal that they can communicate with their parents and family.
According to Facebook, Children currently use technology on a regular basis, but in applications that were designed for teenagers and adults, and that this is something that worries many parents because their children could be communicating with strangers.
How does Messenger Kids work?
Derived from what they said about children using applications created for an older audience, Facebook has created this new application, in which they have greater security and privacy protection, to offer peace of mind to parents. In order for children to use the application and add contacts they must have the approval of their parents, since the application will be handled from the parents account.
In other words, in order to create and add friends to chat through Messenger Kids, it is necessary that parents have a real account on Facebook, from where they can be checking and controlled with who they talk and what their children are talking about. A child alone will not be able to create the account in Messenger Kids or add people without their parents knowing.
One of the security measures is that parents can add contacts for their children, as long as they themselves have added as friends in their Facebook account to the parents of the other children. In this way it is sought to guarantee that no stranger tries to add you and that it is only about people they know in real life.
Similarly, within the application will be the option that Children can report if any of their friends are being cruel with them and parents are notified with a notification.
Regarding the advantages and attractiveness of the application we find that will not have ads and promises to be totally child friendly. The application will offer a fun experience, including filters only for children, such as some visuals of augmented reality that will turn the bottom of your room into an aquarium with dolphins.
Would you use it with your children?
At first, it seems to me that Sounds like a good Facebook proposal and it seems they have taken considerable and necessary security measures into account. However, personally I would not use it. Although the application would be mainly useful because it would only be used to talk with family and friends, I am more of the idea of talking face to face.
I think in the case of those who have family living in another city or country it can be an excellent option, but regarding the friends of the children, if they live in the same city, isn't it better to organize an afternoon of games or some outing together? Of course, sometimes the times and routines of each family do not allow us, but with so much time and access that children now have to the screens, I would not like another reason to have them there.
We must also remember that we cannot leave everything simply in the hands of an application and that we must educate our children about the responsible use of social networks, as well as manage the use and schedules, so that they are not abducted by a screen.
We'll see how the application turns out, maybe I'm wrong and it becomes a great tool for communicating with your loved ones. Time will tell. Currently, Messenger Kids is available only in the United States and for Apple devices.
Photos | iStock
Via | The universal
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