#Child development experts urge Facebook to pull Messenger Kids app
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Child development experts urge Facebook to pull Messenger Kids app
Open letter signed by more than 100 advocates warns of dangers of social media use by under 13s and calls on Mark Zuckerberg to halt app
More than 110 child-health advocates have called on Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg to pull the firm’s Messenger Kids app aimed at under 13s, warning of the dangers of social media for children.
In an open letter led by the Boston-based Campaign for Commercial-Free Childhood, signed by doctors, educators and child health experts including baroness Susan Greenfield, warn that “younger children are simply not ready to have social media accounts”.
Continue reading... http://ift.tt/2FrASv7
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Child development experts urge Facebook to pull Messenger Kids app
Open letter signed by more than 100 advocates warns of dangers of social media use by under 13s and calls on Mark Zuckerberg to halt app
More than 110 child-health advocates have called on Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg to pull the firm’s Messenger Kids app aimed at under 13s, warning of the dangers of social media for children.
In an open letter led by the Boston-based Campaign for Commercial-Free Childhood, signed by doctors, educators and child health experts including baroness Susan Greenfield, warn that “younger children are simply not ready to have social media accounts”.
Continue reading... http://ift.tt/2FrASv7
0 notes
Text
Child development experts urge Facebook to pull Messenger Kids app
Open letter signed by more than 100 advocates warns of dangers of social media use by under 13s and calls on Mark Zuckerberg to halt app
More than 110 child-health advocates have called on Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg to pull the firm’s Messenger Kids app aimed at under 13s, warning of the dangers of social media for children.
In an open letter led by the Boston-based Campaign for Commercial-Free Childhood, signed by doctors, educators and child health experts including baroness Susan Greenfield, warn that “younger children are simply not ready to have social media accounts”.
Continue reading... http://ift.tt/2FrASv7
0 notes
Text
Child development experts urge Facebook to pull Messenger Kids app
Open letter signed by more than 100 advocates warns of dangers of social media use by under 13s and calls on Mark Zuckerberg to halt app
More than 110 child-health advocates have called on Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg to pull the firm’s Messenger Kids app aimed at under 13s, warning of the dangers of social media for children.
In an open letter led by the Boston-based Campaign for Commercial-Free Childhood, signed by doctors, educators and child health experts including baroness Susan Greenfield, warn that “younger children are simply not ready to have social media accounts”.
Continue reading... http://ift.tt/2FrASv7
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Child safety experts attack Facebook over Messenger Kids, ask Mark Zuckerberg to ‘pull the plug’
Facebook is under fire from child health experts over its new app, Messenger Kids. In an open letter published today, co-signed by nineteen organizations and just under 100 advocates, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood has urged Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to pull the plug on the video chat app, citing research that suggests social media can have a detrimental impact on a child’s healthy development in early life.
Messenger Kids launched back in December as a heavily redesigned and streamlined version of Facebook’s regular chat app. Facebook pushed the app as a safe and secure way of letting under 13s chat online with friends and family.
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The app works by letting its younger users set up a “child” profile, but almost all of the functionality is entirely dependant on a regular “parent” Facebook account. These controls, for example, require all contact requests to first be approved by the parent account.
Nevertheless, these strict safety measures, as well as assurances from Facebook that the app does not collect user data, have failed to stop a growing backlash from concerned parents, doctors, media, and teachers who argue that under 13s should not be encouraged to use social media in the first place. Now that debate has now culminated in a strongly-worded open letter addressed directly to Facebook’s co-founder and current chairman.
“Younger children are simply not ready to have social media accounts,” the letter reads. “They are not old enough to navigate the complexities of online relationships, which often lead to misunderstandings and conflicts even among more mature users.”
The letter cites research that links adolescent social media use to depression, body dysmorphia, unhealthy sleeping habits, and addiction to digital media on phones and other mobile devices.
It also directly addresses Facebook’s claim that Messenger Kids is a better alternative for parents concerned their child may have falsified details to create a full Facebook account:
The 11- and 12-year-olds who currently use Snapchat, Instagram, or Facebook are unlikely to switch to an app that is clearly designed for younger children. Messenger Kids is not responding to a need – it is creating one.
This was a concern I brought up when the app was first announced, and I have to agree with the advocates here. In a world where countless numbers of underage children already use fully-fledged Facebook accounts, those using the kid-friendly version are likely to be subject to a fair amount of peer-pressure to switch over.
Likewise, while there are some aspects of Facebook’s approach that ring true on the surface, it’s not hard to picture Messenger Kids as a gateway app for the next generation of Messenger users. You can read the full open letter and decide for yourself here.
In light of the letter’s publication, Facebook has issued a statement to the Washington Post. Facebook global head of safety, Antigone Davis, said:
We worked to create Messenger Kids with an advisory committee of parenting and developmental experts, as well as with families themselves and in partnership with National PTA. We continue to be focused on making Messenger Kids the best experience it can be for families. We have been very clear that there is no advertising in Messenger Kids.
What do you think of Messenger Kids? Is the app’s target audience really ready for social media? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.
Child safety experts attack Facebook over Messenger Kids, ask Mark Zuckerberg to ‘pull the plug’ published first on https://swentexpage.tumblr.com/
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Child experts: Just say 'no' to Facebook's kids app
BOSTON - Child development experts and advocates are urging Facebook to pull the plug on its new messaging app aimed at kids. A group letter sent Tuesday to CEO Mark Zuckerberg argues that younger children - the app is intended for those under 13 - aren't ready to have social media accounts, navigate the complexities of online relationships or protect their own privacy. Facebook launched the free Messenger Kids app in December, pitching it as a way for children to chat with family members and friends approved by parents. It doesn't give kids separate Facebook or Messenger accounts. Rather, the app works as an extension of a parent's account, and parents get controls such as the ability to decide who their kids can chat with. from Business http://www.chron.com/business/technology/article/Child-experts-Just-say-no-to-Facebook-s-kids-12538452.php
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Child safety experts attack Facebook over Messenger Kids, ask Mark Zuckerberg to ‘pull the plug’ Facebook is under fire from child health experts over its new app, Messenger Kids. In an open letter published today, co-signed by nineteen organizations and just under 100 advocates, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood has urged Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg to pull the plug on the video chat app, citing research that suggests social media can have a detrimental impact on a child’s healthy development in early life. Messenger Kids launched back in December as a heavily redesigned and streamlined version of Facebook’s regular chat app. Facebook pushed the app as a safe and secure way of letting under 13s chat online with friends and family. Editor's Pick 10 best Facebook apps for Android Facebook is the most popular social media site on planet Earth. It has over a billion registered users, most of which are active on almost a daily basis. Unfortunately, the official Facebook app is a … The app works by letting its younger users set up a “child” profile, but almost all of the functionality is entirely dependant on a regular “parent” Facebook account. These controls, for example, require all contact requests to first be approved by the parent account. Nevertheless, these strict safety measures, as well as assurances from Facebook that the app does not collect user data, have failed to stop a growing backlash from concerned parents, doctors, media, and teachers who argue that under 13s should not be encouraged to use social media in the first place. Now that debate has now culminated in a strongly-worded open letter addressed directly to Facebook’s co-founder and current chairman. “Younger children are simply not ready to have social media accounts,” the letter reads. “They are not old enough to navigate the complexities of online relationships, which often lead to misunderstandings and conflicts even among more mature users.” The letter cites research that links adolescent social media use to depression, body dysmorphia, unhealthy sleeping habits, and addiction to digital media on phones and other mobile devices. It also directly addresses Facebook’s claim that Messenger Kids is a better alternative for parents concerned their child may have falsified details to create a full Facebook account: The 11- and 12-year-olds who currently use Snapchat, Instagram, or Facebook are unlikely to switch to an app that is clearly designed for younger children. Messenger Kids is not responding to a need – it is creating one. This was a concern I brought up when the app was first announced, and I have to agree with the advocates here. In a world where countless numbers of underage children already use fully-fledged Facebook accounts, those using the kid-friendly version are likely to be subject to a fair amount of peer-pressure to switch over. Likewise, while there are some aspects of Facebook’s approach that ring true on the surface, it’s not hard to picture Messenger Kids as a gateway app for the next generation of Messenger users. You can read the full open letter and decide for yourself here. In light of the letter’s publication, Facebook has issued a statement to the Washington Post. Facebook global head of safety, Antigone Davis, said: We worked to create Messenger Kids with an advisory committee of parenting and developmental experts, as well as with families themselves and in partnership with National PTA. We continue to be focused on making Messenger Kids the best experience it can be for families. We have been very clear that there is no advertising in Messenger Kids. What do you think of Messenger Kids? Is the app’s target audience really ready for social media? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. , via Android Authority http://bit.ly/2GvXGv1
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Child experts call on Facebook to pull Messenger Kids app - USA TODAY
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USA TODAY
Child experts call on Facebook to pull Messenger Kids app USA TODAY More than 100 child development experts and advocates are urging Facebook to end its Messenger Kids app amid worries over the repercussions of encouraging elementary school children to use social media. In a letter sent Tuesday to Facebook CEO Mark ... Child Health Experts Urge Facebook to Kill Its New Messenger App for KidsFortune Facebook's new Messenger Kids app in activists' crosshairsCBS News Child advocates urge Facebook to end Messenger KidsWashington Post WIRED -New York Times -wwlp.com -The Guardian all 14 news articles »
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Child development experts urge Facebook to pull Messenger Kids app http://ift.tt/2FrASv7
Child development experts urge Facebook to pull Messenger Kids app
Open letter signed by more than 100 advocates warns of dangers of social media use by under 13s and calls on Mark Zuckerberg to halt app
It is ‘irresponsible to encourage children as young as pre-schoolers to start using a Facebook product’, write the open letter’s authors. Photograph: djedzura/Getty Images/iStockphoto
More than 110 child-health advocates have called on Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg to pull the firm’s Messenger Kids app aimed at under 13s, warning of the dangers of social media for children.
In an open letter led by the Boston-based Campaign for Commercial-Free Childhood, signed by doctors, educators and child health experts including baroness Susan Greenfield, warn that “younger children are simply not ready to have social media accounts”.
The authors write: “At a time when there is mounting concern about how social media use affects adolescents’ wellbeing, it is particularly irresponsible to encourage children as young as pre-schoolers to start using a Facebook product.”
The standalone Messenger Kids app was launched in December targeting children under 13 with strict parent controls that include contact approvals, screened content and safety filters to prevent children sharing inappropriate material. It contains no ads and Facebook says data collected from it will not be used for advertising purposes.
But the launch of the app was attacked by commentators and British health secretary Jeremy Hunt, who said the firm should “stay away from my kids”.
The open letter authors said Messenger Kids was likely to increase the amount of time pre-school and elementary age children spend with their devices.
“In a landscape of ubiquitous technology that undermines children’s emotional growth, the last thing the youngest among them need is a powerful enticement to move their friendships online” said Dr Sherry Turkle, Abby Rockefeller Mauzé professor of the social studies of science and technology at MIT, and author of the book Reclaiming Conversation.
“It’s galling to see Facebook target young children at a time when evidence is mounting that excessive social media use negatively impacts kids and teens’ wellbeing,” said Josh Golin, executive director of the Campaign for Commercial-Free Childhood.
Facebook said it developed Messenger Kids with the help of online safety experts including the National PTA and Blue Star Families. It is designed to connect children to relatives and friends through text, photos and video chat while making parents the gatekeepers. It is fully compliant with the US Children’s Online Privacy and Protection Act, the social network said.
“As children spend more and more time on digital devices, they lose the healthy capacities to cultivate moments of quiet and solitude that are so crucial for developing empathy and healthy relationships,” said Turkle.
Jenny Radesky, MD, a developmental behaviour paediatrician and media researcher at the University of Michigan, said those under 13 years old find it hard to grasp concepts such as privacy and personal data. “They’re just starting to build awareness about their identity, their role in relationships, and morality,” she said. “Combine that immaturity with the problematic interactions that often happen on social media, and it could be really messy.”
US federal law prohibits companies from collecting personal information on those under 13 without parental consent. However, millions of children are already on Facebook, with or without their parents’ permission, said Stephen Balkam, chief executive of the nonprofit Family Online Safety Institute, who saw the launch of Messenger Kids as a pragmatic approach to the situation.
The open letter joins a chorus of discontent directed towards the impact of social media, and in particular Facebook, on society and the young.
Industry insiders including former Facebook president Sean Parker, SalesForce CEO Marc Benioff and Apple chief executive Tim Cook have all recently expressed concerns over the use of social media by children.
“Parents, health professionals, and even investors are standing up to tell tech giants that they’ve gone too far,” said Golin. “This is a pivotal moment, and Silicon Valley executives must decide if they care about the welfare of children, families and society, or only about hooking users and pursuing profits.”
Facebook did not immediately comment.
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The Guardian: Child development experts urge Facebook to pull Messenger Kids app https://t.co/vo3M2Mtzhv
http://dlvr.it/QDDnjw #NewsInTweets
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https://www.ebates.com/r/AHMEDR148?eeid=28187 Child development experts urge Facebook to pull Messenger Kids app http://dlvr.it/QDD0wG https://www.booking.com/s/35_6/b0387376
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Child development experts urge Facebook to pull Messenger Kids app
Open letter signed by more than 100 advocates warns of dangers of social media use by under 13s and calls on Mark Zuckerberg to halt app
More than 110 child-health advocates have called on Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg to pull the firm’s Messenger Kids app aimed at under 13s, warning of the dangers of social media for children.
In an open letter led by the Boston-based Campaign for Commercial-Free Childhood, signed by doctors, educators and child health experts including baroness Susan Greenfield, warn that “younger children are simply not ready to have social media accounts”.
Continue reading... http://ift.tt/2FrASv7
0 notes
Text
Child development experts urge Facebook to pull Messenger Kids app
Open letter signed by more than 100 advocates warns of dangers of social media use by under 13s and calls on Mark Zuckerberg to halt app
More than 110 child-health advocates have called on Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg to pull the firm’s Messenger Kids app aimed at under 13s, warning of the dangers of social media for children.
In an open letter led by the Boston-based Campaign for Commercial-Free Childhood, signed by doctors, educators and child health experts including baroness Susan Greenfield, warn that “younger children are simply not ready to have social media accounts”.
Continue reading... http://ift.tt/2FrASv7
0 notes
Text
Child development experts urge Facebook to pull Messenger Kids app
Open letter signed by more than 100 advocates warns of dangers of social media use by under 13s and calls on Mark Zuckerberg to halt app
More than 110 child-health advocates have called on Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg to pull the firm’s Messenger Kids app aimed at under 13s, warning of the dangers of social media for children.
In an open letter led by the Boston-based Campaign for Commercial-Free Childhood, signed by doctors, educators and child health experts including baroness Susan Greenfield, warn that “younger children are simply not ready to have social media accounts”.
Continue reading... http://ift.tt/2FrASv7
0 notes
Text
Child development experts urge Facebook to pull Messenger Kids app
Open letter signed by more than 100 advocates warns of dangers of social media use by under 13s and calls on Mark Zuckerberg to halt app
More than 110 child-health advocates have called on Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg to pull the firm’s Messenger Kids app aimed at under 13s, warning of the dangers of social media for children.
In an open letter led by the Boston-based Campaign for Commercial-Free Childhood, signed by doctors, educators and child health experts including baroness Susan Greenfield, warn that “younger children are simply not ready to have social media accounts”.
Continue reading... http://ift.tt/2FrASv7
0 notes
Text
Child experts: Just say 'no' to Facebook's kids app
Child development experts and advocates are urging Facebook to pull the plug on its new messaging app aimed at kids. A group letter sent Tuesday to CEO Mark Zuckerberg argues that younger children — the app is intended for those under 13 — aren't ready to have social media accounts, navigate the complexities of online relationships or protect their own privacy. Facebook launched the free Messenger Kids app in December, pitching it as a way for children to chat with family members and parent-approved friends. It doesn't give kids separate Facebook or Messenger accounts. Rather, the app works as an extension of a parent's account, and parents get controls such as the ability to decide who their kids can chat with.
from Business http://www.chron.com/techburger/article/Child-experts-Just-say-no-to-Facebook-s-kids-12536065.php
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