Facebook targets 6-year olds!
It's shocking --but no surprise-- to see how young children are being sought after as social media customers.
Two days go Facebook announced this:
"Today, in the US, we’re rolling out a preview of Messenger Kids, a new app that makes it easier for kids to safely video chat and message with family and friends when they can’t be together in person."
Sure they sprinkle the announcement with words like 'safer,' 'standalone' and 'controlled.' But let's not be fooled as to what the real deal is: To groom younger customers to expand and dominate the base.
We like to see the research that they lean on, which they say led them to fill the need to allow kids to connect. Facebook, if you want to have 'thought-provoking conversations' with parents, talk to any Montessori school, and they will tell you how and why their kids are becoming disconnected.
Gifs, masks, drawing tools, and stickers don't constitute social media or nurture 'connections'! C'mon, Facebook!
Read what others have to say:
The Wall Street Journal - Should 6-Year-Olds Be on Social Media?
The Daily Mail - New Facebook app aimed at children