The recent release of the Messenger Kids by Facebook has drawn an open petition signed by over 21,000 people asking that the social media giant end the application permanently.
Originally, Facebook was designed for people over the age of 12, ensuring that they would be some form of protection in place to prevent children from being lured into potentially hazardous situations. However, the creation of the Messenger Kids, which is specifically geared towards children under 13, has caused a great deal of concern, especially among child advocacy groups.
The Concerns Are Mounting
Several recent studies have shown that excessive use of social media has become detrimental to teens, not only creating a greater amount of isolation, but also decreasing their ability to communicate in person. The concern is that allowing children who were younger than 13 to start using the app will only stunt growth and create greater isolationism. This will likely lead to depression, decreased social skills, and even other forms of antisocial behavior.
Several groups have come out against the app, including teachers and educators, healthcare professionals, and parents, who have cited several studies proving that Facebook can be detrimental to the growth of children.
Added to the concerns have been the revelations by former Facebook executives who not only have cautioned parents to stop allowing their children to use the social media platform, but have openly discussed denying allowing their own children the ability to use it. They acknowledge that it has become far more of a problem than they ever imagined, and are encouraging parents to decrease their children’s ability to use Facebook.
In addition, the recent revelations that user data is often purchased and distributed by groups such as Cambridge Analytica has caused a growing concern that privacy and data of children can be passed along and used in ways that may cause harm to the children. There is also the added concern that nine and 10-year-olds do not have the necessary maturity to filter things that they may post, which may come back to haunt them later on in life.
There are genuine concerns why Facebook (www.siczine.com) should end the use of the Messenger Kids app, that it is unlikely that the company will heed these requests. This is another means that the social media giant is looking to use to increase its share of the marketplace, one it will be likely unwilling to forgo.