Facebook creates version of Instagram for kids under 13
Facebook Inc. is developing a version of the Instagram photo-sharing tool specifically for children under 13, with the goal of putting its popular products in the hands of the next generation of Internet users.
The new app was announced internally on Thursday, but has yet to launch. Instagram currently requires users to be at least 13 years old. BuzzFeed News previously reported on Instagram Kids.
Instagram, bought by Facebook nearly ten years ago for $1 billion, has become one of its most popular products at a time when its leading social networking property has failed to resonate with some younger users.
More and more kids are asking their parents if they can join apps that help them keep up with their friends, Joe Osborne, a Facebook spokesperson, said in a statement. Right now there aren’t a lot of options for parents, so we’re working on creating additional products – like we did with Messenger Kids – that are kid-friendly, managed by parents. . We’re looking to deliver a parent-controlled experience on Instagram to help kids follow their friends, discover new hobbies and interests, and more. “
Messenger Kids is a version of Facebook’s messaging app for tweens. This app includes a number of parental controls, but a loophole previously allowed some children to chat with people their parents did not approve of. The incident raised concern among regulators that it was not providing enough protection for children.
