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No to Facebook's new Messenger Kids app

By Associated Press,

Facebook recently started a new app for children called Messenger Kids. On January 30, experts on children and
education gave a message to Facebook: Shut down the app.

The app lets kids under 13 send messages. The experts spelled out their objections in a letter. They sent it to Facebook
head Mark Zuckerberg. The experts said younger children aren't ready to have social media accounts. Also, they aren't
ready to deal with online relationships. Kids cannot protect their private matters online, the letter said.

Facebook started the free Messenger Kids app on December 4. The social media company said it's a way for children to
chat with family members and parent-approved friends. Facebook rules do not let kids have their own accounts. Still,
many do. The app works as part of their parent's account. Parents get to control who their kids chat with.

Facebook said the app fills a gap. It lets kids talk safely online with people. However, it also gives parents control.

Parenting Groups Thing Facebook Is Luring Kids

But 100 experts and parenting groups disagree with Facebook. They are led by Campaign for a Commercial-Free
Childhood in Boston. Together, they signed the letter to Zuckerberg. Many doctors and educators signed the letter.
Children's music singer Raffi Cavoukian also signed the letter. The letter said Messenger Kids is not responding to a need.
Instead, it is trying to get young kids in the habit of using Facebook.

Facebook said the app "helps parents and children to chat in a safer way." It pointed out parents will control their kids'
activity. Facebook said it created the app with help from parenting experts and families. The app contains no ads.

Experts Worried About Tech Effects

The dispute over Messenger Kids is part of a bigger problem. Experts worry about how smartphones and social media
apps affect people. They say these apps can harm the way people think and behave. Sean Parker was Facebook's first
president. He said Facebook tries to make users addicted to the app. Other early employees of Facebook have said
similar things.

Many preteens are already using Facebook. They also use more youth-oriented social media platforms. These include
Snapchat and Facebook's own Instagram. Preteens do this even though the companies have rules that say users must be
at least 13 years old. Those rules are based in part on U.S. law. That law prohibits internet companies from collecting
information on children without their parents' permission. It also limits ads for children.

Facebook wouldn't answer questions on how popular Messenger Kids is. App Annie is a company that studies apps. It
says Messenger Kids has been downloaded about 80,000 times on Apple products. It's been in the top 40 most popular
kids' apps. That means it is sort of popular but not among the most popular.

Doctor Cites Technology's Influence On Opinions

Jenny Radesky is children's doctor at the University of Michigan. She signed the letter. Children's development is her
focus of study. Radesky said most parents do not want their children to be on social media. "One can only assume that
Facebook introduced it to engage users younger and younger," Radesky said.
That's troubling, she said. Younger children do not have thinking skills to handle many things they see on social media.
They often read about things they do not understand. In many cases, they do not realize when technology is trying to
sway their opinion or beliefs.

Facebook said it won't show ads on the app. It also won't collect data for marketing to kids. Children using Messenger
Kids, of course, will grow older. As they do, Facebook says it won't move them to regular Messenger or Facebook.
However, it might let kids move their lists of friends and family to Messenger.

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