Facebook launches Messenger Kids across Sub-Saharan Africa

Facebook has recently made a significant move by introducing Messenger Kids across Sub-Saharan Africa, aiming to provide children with a safe online platform to connect with friends and family under parental supervision. The launch of this video chat and messaging app comes as a response to the growing need for a controlled online experience for children in the region. In an exclusive interview with CNBC Africa, Kojo Boakye, Facebook's Head of Policy in Africa, shed light on the features and safety measures implemented in the Messenger Kids app. Boakye emphasized that Messenger Kids is a separate application from Facebook, tailored specifically for children. Parents can easily set up an account for their children on the app, allowing them to communicate through messages, calls, and other engaging activities while maintaining parental oversight. The platform enables parents to monitor and control whom their children interact with, ensuring a secure and age-appropriate online environment. Boakye highlighted that the app is designed to address parents' concerns about the safety of children's online activities, offering features such as access to a log of images and videos viewed by children, as well as the ability to block contacts deemed unsuitable. Discussing the safety measures incorporated into Messenger Kids, Boakye reassured that the platform provides a high level of security by applying Facebook's expertise in privacy and data protection. He emphasized that children using Messenger Kids are shielded from potentially harmful content that may be prevalent on other social media platforms, as parents have full control over the content their children can access. Boakye reiterated that the app caters to children aged 6 to 12, aligning with Facebook's commitment to providing a safe and controlled online experience for younger users. Addressing concerns about the monetization of the platform, Boakye emphasized that there are no business plans in place for Messenger Kids. Facebook's primary focus is to meet the needs of parents by offering a secure online space for children without incorporating advertisements or selling user data. The platform's sole purpose is to provide children with a supervised and secure online environment where they can interact with friends and family under parental guidance. With the increasing trend of digital taxes in some African countries like Uganda, Boakye discussed the potential impact of such levies on online platforms. He mentioned Uganda's social media tax as an extreme example, highlighting the negative consequences it has had on internet usage in the country. Boakye acknowledged the ongoing discussions on how to tax the digital economy and emphasized the importance of finding a balanced approach that supports economic growth while ensuring access to online services. In conclusion, Facebook's rollout of Messenger Kids in Sub-Saharan Africa represents a significant step towards providing children with a secure and controlled online space for social interaction. By prioritizing parental supervision and data protection, the platform aims to address the safety concerns associated with children's online activities while fostering meaningful connections with friends and family. With a commitment to maintaining a safe and advertisement-free environment, Messenger Kids is set to reshape the digital landscape for young users in the region.