Facebook focusing on Instagram for kids under 13

Facebook says it really is working on a type of its Instagram software for kids under 13, who are technically prohibited to use the software in its current form because of federal privacy regulations.

The company confirmed a youthful report by Buzzfeed News on Friday, saying it is “exploring a parent-controlled experience” on Instagram.

The move came only a day after Facebook announced a slew of new measures designed to keep teenagers safe on Instagram - but that announcement built no reference to the intend to build an Instagram for kids.

Critics raised problems immediately, saying a good kid-friendly Instagram is merely a way for Facebook to expand it has the user base and state children into which consists of products so that it can later earn a living off of them.

“Facebook poses one of the primary threats when it comes to children’s privacy," said Rasha Abdul-Rahim, co-director of Amnesty Tech, an arm of the nonprofit Amnesty International. “Raising safeguards for children on line is paramount, but the fact continues to be that Facebook will be harvesting children’s info and profiting off their complete profiles."

Facebook launched the Messenger Youngsters application in 2017, pitching it all as a way for children to speak to family members and friends approved by father and mother. It doesn’t give youngsters split Facebook or Messenger accounts. Rather, the iphone app works as an expansion of a parent’s account, and parents get handles, such as the ability to decide who their kids can speak to. But many child-development professionals urged the business to pull it, stating kids don’t need to be on social media.

“Increasingly kids are actually asking their father and mother if indeed they can join programs that help them match their good friends," Facebook stated in a good statement. “Right now there aren’t many options for parents, therefore we’re working on building additional goods - like we do with Messenger Youngsters - that are suited to kids, maintained by father and mother."

When it launched Messenger Kids, Facebook said it wouldn't show advertisements or gather data for marketing to kids.