Messenger is a big app for Facebook, with millions and millions using it as a primary chat service. Now Facebook is hoping to grow Messenger adoption even further with a version aimed specifically at children.
Messenger Kids was announced today by Facebook. Like the standard Messenger app, Messenger Kids offers messaging and video chat as well as masks, stickers, GIFS, and emojis.
The main draw of Messenger Kids is that it offers parental controls. This allows parents to set up an account for their child and choose exactly who the kid is allowed to chat with. Once these contacts are set up, they'll appear on the home screen along with their online status.
Adults who message with kids will receive the chats in their regular Messenger app. Additionally, parents can control their child's Messenger Kids experience through a control panel found in the main Facebook app.
Facebook has been the subject of some privacy-related controversies in the past, so some parents may be hesitant to sign their children up for a Messenger Kids app from Facebook. If you and your family use Messenger to communicate, though, the Messenger Kids app could be a good way to keep your children in the loop while also keeping them safe from unwanted contacts.
Messenger Kids is free to use and is ad-free. It's now available for iOS and will launch on the Amazon App Store and Google Play Store for Android in the coming months.
