Because our kids need a social life too, even if it’s online
The digital age is among us. With the world upended by the health crisis, everyone now becomes a digital native. The new normal calls for less physical contact and more virtual interactions, at least until the curve is flattened and a vaccine is discovered. And if we spend most of our days on the internet, one might ask how do we protect our children from online dangers like cyber bullying, predators, phishing, accidental downloading of malware, even explicit and problematic posts?
One of the biggest social media websites, Facebook, has been working with Youth Advisors, a team of experts in online safety, child development, and media, to help shape the Messenger Kids app, a child-friendly version of its messaging application called Messenger Kids.
From the day it was first launched in 2017, in the US, the social media giant continues to consult child safety advocates and educators to ensure that the Messenger Kids app balances parental control with features that help kids learn how to connect responsibly online.
Fast-forward to April 2020 and Messenger Kids became available globally in up to 70 other countries, and this September the application finally makes it to the Philippines.
“Through our work with the Stairway Foundation, the Child Rights Network, and other safety partners in the Philippines, we learned that many Filipino parents are looking for ways to help their children stay in touch with friends and family during this challenging time, in a fun and parent-supervised environment. We hope that Messenger Kids will help them to continue to find ways to have fun, create, and engage with friends and family,” says Amber Hawkes, APAC Head of Safety, Facebook.
“In a pandemic, children are not able to explore and socialize with friends the way they used to. Experiencing change and restrictions in both learning and play is especially challenging for children. We are glad to see that Messenger Kids has been designed with built-in parental controls and safety in mind, and also fun features that are age-appropriate and encouraging children to stay connected even as they are staying physically apart. We shall continue working with Facebook to help make the platform safe for children,” explains Ace Diloy of the Stairway Foundation.
The mobile app, like the original Messenger, enables chat, voice, video communications between the social media site's web-based messaging and smartphones. Other than the Parents Dashboard, its other features include Approved Adults and Easier Connections. Fun-filled games, filters, and stickers are a given too. It is designed to be compliant with the Children’s Online Privacy and Protection Act (COPPA).
Parents can set controls, as well as review and manage their kids’ contacts through the Parent Dashboard. Kids can block and report anyone in their contact as well, which will notify their parents. This ensures that parents know who their child may be talking to.
Parents could connect their own messenger app with their child’s and grant specific people the ability to add their children to groups through the Approved Adults, primarily for teachers to use for school activities.
Easier Connections, on the other hand, allow parents the choice on whether their child’s name and profile photo could be visible to select groups.
Meanwhile, kid-friendly filters, reactions, and sound effects make video chats even better. Stickers, GIFs, emojis, and drawing tools give children more ways to express themselves. Plus the app boasts of not having any in-app purchases or ads.
All you have to do is download Messenger Kids app on your kid’s phone or tablet, authorize and authenticate the device using Facebook login, create an account for your child, and manage and customize controls of the account through the Parent Dashboard.
The app is free to download in Google Play Store.