“Facebook’s new messaging app deepens debate over kids’ social-media use”
I don’t have kids and I’m not on Facebook, but this doesn’t seem like a great idea to me. Why can’t kids wait till they’re 13? What’s the urgency (except from FB’s pov)?
What say you, parents, grandparents, and non-parents?
My kids had phones when they were 8 or 9, mostly for my own convenience so I could reach them. It’s just a messaging/chat app. I don’t see a problem with it. It gives parents a reason to have a “responsible phone use” discussion.
ETA: come to think of it, my daughter was on Facebook when she was 10 or 11. My son just started using Facebook (he’s 24).
Younger kids are already doing a lot of chatting on their phones. I can see this app taking over in the long run for that demographic. Currently, kids are using whatever apps are out there, but going forward parents may set this up when their kids first get phones. Of course, kids may still use other apps, but the FB app might become the default one over time.
What happens to a kid’s access after they turn 14? They likely still have friends that are younger. Do they lose the ability to chat with them?
online bullying and harassment has been in the news once or twice recently. this just provides another avenue for it.
which the kids will ignore.
Funny, mine didn’t. They knew that having a phone was dependent on it being used responsibly.
Why? Won’t there be mechanisms to block or ignore other users?
I don’t see any way this could possibly go wrong.
Especially the video and photo part. That will be completely innocent, I’m sure.
Is the app set so the parents are automatically copied on any messages sent?
And received?
:eek: Seriously? What happened to trust?
My nine-year-old has a flip phone for when she’s out by herself or somewhere where we could get separated in a crowd. She uses my phone for video chats. I don’t see where she needs an account of her own at this point.
You can trust your kid without having to give up your responsibility to provide him/her with an appropriate level of supervision.
Are people not aware that there are already numerous apps that do these exact same functions?
As a kid, when I went outside, my parents always made me wear a wire. So they could eavesdrop on every conversation I had outside of their presence.
This is the Dope. I’m amazed none of the “I’ve never had children, used Facebook, or owned a cellphone, and yet I’m outraged!” crew have arrived yet.
Trust, but verify!
“Turn Off Messenger Kids, Health Experts Plead to Facebook”
What do you parents think? What are these “experts” so worried about?
I’m a parent. And if you let your 6 year old have a smartphone then you are a moron.
This is just Facebook desperate to capture that age bracket’s market. Facebook to kids my daughters age (14) is considered to be passé and for the olds, as far as I can tell.
Well shit, just turn off any data plans. Lots of folks hand over their cell/tablet/iPad to their kids, once they upgrade their model.