Why Facebook Messenger Kids deserves our scrutiny
Issue #89
Back in June 2023, the Food and Drug Administration made a decision that surprised a few observers: they banned all Juul vaping products in the US. According to their statement about the decision, the FDA stated that “we recognise these make up a significant part of the available products and many have played a disproportionate role in the rise in youth vaping.” Since then, an emergency court order has allowed Juul to continue selling its products, but the fact that the FDA implemented the ban in the first place—and the wording in the statement—is significant. After all, it’s heartening to see regulators stepping in when they think a product could be dangerous for children.
When a product could be dangerous, it should be treated like it’s dangerous. Think about how we regulate tobacco and alcohol: the government sets age restrictions, and as parents, we do our best to inform our kids about the dangers. When things might pose a risk to our children, it’s just the right thing to do. We should scrutinize products to make sure they’re safe. And if they’re not, we should make sure we do what we can to protect our children until they’re old enough to navigate the dangers on their own.
Thanks to the revelations of the Facebook whistleblower, we’re learning more about the dangers that certain tech products pose to our children. It’s clear that these platforms deserve the same scrutiny as anything else. We’ve already seen regulators and experts speak out against Instagram for Kids, the junior version of the adult social media app. There was so much pushback against the plan that Meta decided to push pause on development indefinitely. To me, the prospect of a pint-sized Instagram was chilling given what we know about the risks to teen mental health from the adult app. Luckily, there was enough outrage about that particular plan—but another of Meta’s kids’ products has managed to avoid scrutiny: Facebook Messenger Kids.
The recent lawsuit against Meta has unveiled notable details about Facebook Messenger Kids. Internal emails between Adam Mosseri and the Youth Team's Engineering Director at Facebook reveal Meta's strategy for users under 13. Their stated goal is to have children “age up from Messenger Kids to Instagram in their tween years as they get a cellular phone.” This strategy appears to have contributed significantly to the presence of millions of children under the age of 13 on Instagram, despite it contradicting the platform's Terms of Use. This awareness by Meta is now evident. Furthermore, the emails suggest that Meta prioritized establishing its dominance among young users to secure a future user base.
When Meta initially launched Facebook Messenger Kids, many experts questions Meta’s motives. They suspected that Meta was trying to hook kids while they were young, and train the next generation of users. Facebook Messenger Kids also requires parents and caregivers to have an active Facebook account—which keeps us tethered to the platform as well. While Facebook Messenger Kids might not pose the same obvious risks to mental health, we should be paying close attention whenever Meta offers a platform for kids. They’ve proven again and again that they care more about profits than people. The lawsuit all but confirms what many critics suspected all along. But while lots of people assumed Facebook Messenger Kids was a funnel to Facebook, the strategy was actually to move them over to Instagram.
At the end of the day, Facebook Messenger Kids is the same thing as Instagram for Kids. It’s an adult platform that’s been retrofitted for children. Meta didn’t create it because they’re concerned about safety, they created it because it’s good for the bottom line and future growth prospects. The platform has already seen its share of controversy after inadvertently allowing children to connect with strangers—but that’s not surprising given that the original platform was designed to prioritize growth at all costs. With everything we know about Meta and how they approach their products, I think all of their kids’ platforms deserve a closer look. While I want to be welcoming of technology in my own children’s lives, I know by now that I don’t want Facebook to be the teacher.
A deeper dive
Here are a few helpful resources in case you want to really dig into today's topic:
When Meta first launched Facebook Messenger Kids, Rachel Metz at the MIT Technology Review had this to say: “[D]o I want my young child to use Messenger Kids? The answer is the same as some people’s relationship status on Facebook: it’s complicated. It’s good that children have a chance to grow gradually into social apps, but I don’t necessarily want Facebook to be the teacher.” I couldn’t agree more.
Back in 2020 when many of us were locked down at home, children increasingly turned to technology to keep in touch with friends. Facebook Messenger Kids was a popular choice and The Wall Street Journal interviewed experts in the field to get their takes. I liked this excerpt in particular: “You’re indoctrinating them into the world of social media. I think there’s a risk of children feeling the pressure to always be on,” said Christine Elgersma, senior editor of social media and learning resources at Common Sense Media. Her own 10-year-old daughter recently was invited to join, and Ms. Elgersma declined. “I’m not ready to introduce her to all of the nuances of social media,” she said.
TL;DR
Too long; didn't read. It shouldn't be a full-time job to keep up on industry news, so here is a mercifully quick summary of some other notable developments:
Almost half of British teens feel addicted to social media. The Guardian reports that “When the cohort were aged 16-18 they were asked, for the first time, about social media use. Of the 7,000 people who responded, 48% said they agreed or strongly agreed with the statement “I think I am addicted to social media”. A higher proportion of girls (57%) agreed compared to boys (37%), according to the data shared with the Guardian.”
Facebook is launching a new way to harvest your data. “Link History” is just what it sounds like: a list of all the links you’ve clicked on in the Facebook mobile app. This is a textbook case of a feature designed purely for the benefit of advertisers—not users. According to Gizmodo, “The company pitches Link History as a useful tool for consumers “with your browsing activity saved in one place,” rather than another way to keep tabs on your behavior. With the new setting you’ll “never lose a link again,” Facebook says in a pop-up encouraging users to consent to the new tracking method.”
And lastly
Here are a few more pieces of original writing from me and my team—just in case you're keen for more:
Because we created a messaging app for kids, we often get asked how we’re different from Facebook Messenger Kids. Check out this article here to learn what sets us apart.
All of the tech that we create is driven by our three product pillars: connection, creativity and cultivation. It’s not just about designing for safety—it’s about ensuring that we give kids access to platforms that give them the absolute best of technology. You can read all about our pillars here.