Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg
James Martin/ CNET.
Facebook ought to close down a messaging app focused on kids under 13 years of ages, kid supporters stated Tuesday in a letter to the business. The missive follows a report recently that the social media deceived kids into investing their moms and dads’ cash on online video games.
A year earlier, the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood and other advocacy groups had actually asked Facebook to shutter its Messenger Kids, arguing that the advertisement-free app might cause anxiety, unhealthy sleep routines and lower self-confidence. Now advocacy groups are restoring require the business to end on the app due to the fact that they’re worried Facebook is intentionally making use of kids.
The social media apparently helped with “ friendly scams” by motivating video game designers to let kids invest their moms and dads’ cash without their approval, according to a report by Reveal, a site run by the Center for InvestigativeReporting The not-for-profit wire service pointed out more than 135 pages of unsealed court files from a 2012 class-action suit.
“The documents appear to demonstrate that Facebook is willing to cause actual harm to children and families in its quest for profit,” the advocacy groups stated in a Tuesday letter to Facebook CEO MarkZuckerberg “As such, Facebook is unfit to make any platform or product for children, especially one like Messenger Kids.”
Facebook, which introduced Messenger Kids in December 2017, stated the unsealed files from the 2012 suit are totally unassociated to MessengerKids
“Messenger Kids was released in 2017 and built from the ground up with input from families as well as privacy and safety experts to protect kids’ privacy and put parents in control,” a Facebook representative stated in a declaration. “We have heard from child safety advocates that Messenger Kids is one of the safest apps for kids to connect with their family and friends.”
An overall of 15 advocacy groups signed the letter, consisting of Common Sense, Badass Teachers Association, Defending the Early Years and the Electronic Privacy InformationCenter
First released,Jan 29, 7 a.m. PT
Update, 10 a.m. PT: Includes the overall variety of advocacy groups that signed the letter.
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