Facebook Pitches Instagram For Kids Under 13, Parents Flag Concerns On Social Media

The development is followed after Facebook announced a series of measures intended to keep teenagers safe on Instagram, but the current popular photo sharing platform's prohibits users under the age of 13.

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In a social media age when parents are trying to minimise the screen time for kids, Facebook has announced developing a new Instagram app just for kids. Facebook is working on a version of its Instagram app for kids under 13, who are technically not allowed to use the app in its current form due to federal privacy regulations, as per the news agency AP.

"Increasingly kids are asking their parents if they can join apps that help them keep up with their friends," Facebook said in a statement. “Right now there aren’t many options for parents, so we’re working on building additional products — as we did with Messenger Kids — that are suitable for kids, managed by parents."

Adam Mosseri, Head of Instagram, also announced the plans on the micro-blogging site.

The development is followed after Facebook announced a series of measures intended to keep teenagers safe on Instagram — but that announcement made no mention of the plan to build an Instagram for kids. The current popular photo-sharing platform prohibits users under the age of 13.

Earlier in 2017, Facebook launched the Messenger Kids app promoting it as a way for children to chat with family members and friends approved by parents. Although there are no separate Facebook or Messenger accounts for kids. 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.

Meanwhile, critics and parents alike took to social media raising flags about the intended move. Some also felt the kid-friendly Instagram is just a way for Facebook for expanding its user base and coaxing children into using its products so it can later make money off of them.

Some parents were quick to point out that the platform don’t even have control of its platform, so how can parents be expected to figure it out?

While a few looked at the positive impact saying teaching them early how to interact online may save the issues that are currently being seen with social media and mental health.