Child experts call on Facebook to pull Messenger Kids app
These ten questions can help determine if your child is really prepared to have their own online device. USA TODAY
More than 100 child development experts and advocates are urging Facebook to end its Messenger Kids app amid worries over the repercussions of encouraging elementary school children to use social media.
In a letter sent Tuesday to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, the groups called on Facebook to end the app, noting that it will likely be "the first social media platform widely used by elementary school children." The letter, organized by the Boston-based Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, points to research showing that "excessive use of digital devices and social media" can harm children and teens.
"Younger children are simply not ready to have social media accounts. They are not old enough to navigate the complexities of online relationships, which often lead to misunderstandings and conflicts even among more mature users," the letter states, adding that children may not understand the implications of sending private videos or pictures.
Facebook rolled out Messenger Kids app, which was designed for kids under 13, in December. The social media giant said the app was developed with input from parents, experts in child development and children's media.
The app requires parents approval to sign up and to add new contacts, giving parents more control of the overall experience.
"After talking to thousands of parents, associations like National PTA, and parenting experts in the US, we found that there’s a need for a messaging app that lets kids connect with people they love but also has the level of control parents want," Loren Cheng, Facebook's Product Management Director, said in a December statement.
The letter said it would be "irresponsible" of Facebook to promote the app at a time when the overall impact of early social media use seems bleak. The letter points to research showing higher rates of depression among teens who use social media.
"Encouraging kids to move their friendships online will interfere with and displace the face-to-face interactions and play that are crucial for building healthy developmental skills, including the ability to read human emotion, delay gratification, and engage with the physical world," the letter states.
More: Facebook wants kids under 13 to try new Messenger app