Common Sense Calls for Clear and Transparent Policies Around Facebook’s Messenger Kids App

"A messenger app for kids under 13 that only parents can sign them up for sounds like a nice idea on its face, but without clear policies about data collection, what happens to the content children post, and plans for the future, it is impossible to fully trust the platform. We appreciate that for now, the product is ad-free and appears designed to put parents in control. But why should parents simply trust that Facebook is acting in the best interest of kids? We urge Facebook to make its policies loud and clear – will the product remain ad-free? What data are they collecting and exactly how are they using it? Will parents get ads based on the service? Will they ever erase the group chats that kids are having? These are simple questions that parents need answers to before they sign their kids up. We encourage Facebook to clarify their policies from the start so that it is perfectly clear what parents are signing up for."