Facebook has announced the introduction of Messenger Kids, a new app that makes it easier for kids to safely video chat and message with family and friends when they can’t be together in person.
“Millions of parents are part of Messenger community and they asked us for controllable solutions that let them message with their children.
“We heard that they were looking for better apps for their children to use and from there, we worked directly with parents and kids along with experts in child development, online safety and children’s media to help build our first app for kids,” Facebook said in a statement.
TheNewsGuru reports Messenger Kids is a standalone app that lives on kids’ tablets or smartphones but can be controlled from a parent’s Facebook account.
Whether it’s using video chat to talk to grandparents, staying in touch with cousins who live far away, or sending mom a decorated photo while she’s working late to say hi, Messenger Kids opens up a new world of online communication to families.
Messenger Kids is full of engaging and interactive features for kids to connect with the people they love.
Once their account is set up by a parent, kids can start a one-on-one or group video chat with parent-approved contacts.
The home screen shows them at a glance who they are approved to talk to, and when those contacts are online.
“In addition to video chat, kids can send photos, videos or text messages to their parent-approved friends and adult relatives, who will receive the messages via their regular Messenger app.
“And, a library of kid-appropriate and specially chosen GIFs, frames, stickers, masks and drawing tools lets them decorate their content and express their personalities,” the statement read.
Parents are in full control of who their child interacts with on Messenger Kids; so, parents have nothing to worry about.
Parents can use their main Facebook app to control kids’ accounts and contacts through the Messenger Kids Controls panel.
At this time, Messenger Kids is available in the App Store for iPad, iPod touch and iPhone devices for users in the United States, and will be coming to Amazon App Store and Google Play Store in the coming months.
Every child account on Messenger Kids must be set up by a parent.