In a sure move to generate controversy, Instagram is developing a version of the popular photo sharing app for users 13 and younger.
BuzzFeed News first reported on the project on Thursday, and it was reaffirmed by the Instagram action group.
Currently, Instagram policy does not allow users under the age of 13. Instagram is owned by Facebook Inc. FB,
has a minimum age of 13. Despite the restrictions, several children under 13 have surreptitious accounts at both sites.
Referring to posts from Instagram’s internal message board, BuzzFeed announced that the new app would be developed by Instagram CEO Adam Mosseri and Pavni Diwanji, a Facebook agency previously overseen products aimed at children, including YouTube Kids, while working at GOOGL Alphabet,
Google.
In a tweet Thursday, posted after the BuzzFeed report was published, Mosseri said: “Children are constantly asking their parents if they can join apps that help them keep up with their friends. A version of Instagram where parents have control, as we did w / Messenger Kids, is something we explore. We will share more down the road. ”
Messenger Kids is a Facebook app where parents can control who their children communicate with. However, a bug was discovered in 2019 that allowed children to communicate not only with their friends, but with friends of friends – including adults – whose parents had not checked.
In a message board post, Instagram said its children’s version would emphasize privacy and safety, according to a BuzzFeed report.
Separately, on Wednesday Instagram announced new features and resources for the teen users and their parents, in an effort to protect users from abuse, bullying and predators.
“Protecting young people on Instagram is important to us,” the company said in a blog post. “We want parents to have the information to help their teens have a safe and positive Instagram experience.”
If launched, the app could address legal issues regarding children’s privacy and targeted advertising, and is likely to provoke heavy criticism from youth advocates on issues including harassment , sexting and mental health. Several studies have found that social media can have a detrimental effect on children.
One Twitter user Mosseri’s tweet replied: “We don’t just give children stuff because they want it. We don’t give children dangerous devices to play with when adults haven’t figured out how to make those devices safe. ”