Messenger Kids - Facebook, Inc.

App Review

This review of Messenger Kids was completed by the Australian Council on Children and the Media (ACCM) on 11 May 2021.

About the app

This section contains details about the app provided by an ACCM Reviewer.

ACCM review

This review of Messenger Kids contains the following information:

• The level to which the game was reviewed
• App description
• Reviewers comments
• In App purchasing
• Online information
• Gambling
• Advertising and product placement
• Gender stereotypes and sexual references
• Coarse language
• Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents
• Other

The level to which the game was reviewed

The app was reviewed throughout.

App description

Messenger Kids is a social networking app which is simple to use and easy to set up and navigate. Set up must be done by a parent through their Facebook account and the parent has control over which contacts can be added to their child’s account. Once a login account has been created, kids can video and text message their friends and family.

In addition to the main function of the app, there are several mini-games that can be played, such as: Grow your pet; Pick questions for friends; Play a drawing game; Healthy Habits; Dodge Blocks; Silver Screen; Mad Lab; to name a few. Most of these games are very simple to play, while some require fast reaction times and good fine motor skills. Some of these games can also be played over the Internet with a friend.

Reviewers comments

Messenger Kids is designed for kids and has strict parental controls over who your child can connect with. Parents can restrict who they ‘friend’, suggest friends for them, allow links or not, monitor messages, set usage limits when it’s bedtime and are informed if their child blocks a contact. Parents are also updated with who their child has been communicating with during a given time. Another positive is that there are no ads or in-app purchases. The main concern is that children are connecting over the Internet and require a login to do so. Data may be collected that provides links to their identity such as location, contacts, contact info, identifiers, diagnostics and user content. For these reasons the app isn’t recommended for children under 9 and parental guidance is recommended for children aged 9 – 12.

In App purchasing

There is no In-App purchasing in this game.

Online information

There is some online connectivity, such as:

• Login required
• Personal details are shared online and by developer
• Content generated during use can be shared online and by developer.

Gambling

At the time of review, the reviewer found no simulated gambling content. If you discover simulated gambling content in this app, please contact us with the details so we can update our review.

Advertising and product placement

There is no advertising or product placement in this game.

Gender stereotypes and sexual references

None noted.

Coarse language

None noted.

Game playing behaviour which may be of concern to some parents

None noted.

Other

N/A.

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