So most of you know Facebook has an app for kids under 13. This is because Facebook is a T (age 13 and up only) app. Some parents applaud this effort, but some groups say it’s not enough. It’s Facebook verses child health advocates.
In fact, some child health groups say this Facebook child’s app is just another trick. Some argue Messenger Kids is an attempt to get kids addicted to social media at an early age. Furthermore, some advocate groups say they can let advertisers manipulate them at an early age. One such group is Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood. Their headquarters are right here in Boston, not for our our computer service shop.
They’re running a petition they call ‘no Facebook for five year-olds’. And they’re not the only one. You also have a research team from San Diego State University. With their research, they say young children aren’t ready for social media accounts, period. They also say they don’t understand online relationships and how it invades privacy issues. They even get on teens, who are old enough to use Facebook, aren’t as happy as those who interact face to face more often. Furthermore, these advocates groups say pre-teen apps can open to door to bullying and other crimes and woes.
So this isn’t about Facebook verses child health advocates anymore. This is more about a group that doesn’t want children on social media anymore, period! I’m sorry, but social media is a part of IT service and a part our lives, whether we like it or not. So we need apps like Messenger Kids to teach kids how to use social media with dignity and responsibility. This isn’t 1972, 1984, or 1993. This is 2018! There’s a part of me that yearn for the good ol’ days too, but not like this. I agree with their concerns. Restrictions should be put in place because there are some things children under 13 can’t handle. And Facebook does a good job with that, letting parents, not children, run Messenger Kids’ pages. However,? there needs to be a healthy balance and there needs to be moderation. Where do you stand on the argument?