SAN FRANCISCO, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- Facebook on Monday launched a kid-version Messenger app for children under 13, coming with built-in parental controls.
Messenger Kids has provisions for a parent or a guardian to create and delete a child's account and for parents to approve a child's contact list, according to Facebook.
A kid's account is an extension of his or her parent's existing Messenger account and cannot be found through Facebook search to protect child privacy.
Moreover, the app will not display ads or collect data for marketing purposes in compliance with U.S. federal laws like Children's Online Privacy Protection Act.
Facebook also said it won't automatically turn children's accounts into regular Messenger or Facebook accounts when they reach 13.
As kids have easier access and greater exposure to a slew of digital devices nowadays, parents are becoming more concerned about their online safety.
Data from the research firm Dubit shows some 93 percent of children aged from 6 to 12 years in the United States have access to tablets or smartphones, and 66 percent have their own device.
In another study, Facebook in collaboration with the U.S. National Parent Teacher Association surveyed more than 1,200 American parents with children under 13. Three out of every five parents said their kids use messaging apps, social media or both.
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