Facebook Messenger Kids app was launched back in 2019 and was especially for kids. It aimed to allow kids to converse with people who their parents approve of. The creators wanted to keep kids away from strangers through this app. However, according to reports, this app has privacy flaws and is failing to do its primary task. It is not able to keep kids away from conversing with strangers.

This app has a design flaw, which lets kids talk to anyone by allowing them to get into group chats that their parents didn’t approve.

If you don’t know exactly how it works, let’s discuss it thoroughly. Its standard chat section allows kids to start a one-by-one conversation with people approved by their parents. However, when it comes to group chats, the process is a bit complicated. Only those who start the group chat can invite friends. Though, the flaw allows kids to talk to strangers without parents’ permission in the group chat. It is not confirmed when this flaw started, but Facebook has been notifying users about it.  

This app was made with a simple motive that kids won’t be able to talk to strangers without their parents’ approval. But it is not able to provide kids the utmost protection that they need. Facebook has been alerting a lot of users and closing group chats, but officially hasn’t made a public statement. The bug was found through various permissions that were implemented in group chats. But the permissions started becoming more complex because of more than one user being involved. Anyone who started the group could only invite the user who was allowed for a chat.   

 

This matter is very sensitive as this app is designed for kids under 13 years of age. Facebook has already been criticized for collecting the information of users. Its recent privacy flaw is destined to raise more eyebrows. Facebook is already facing charges as a company, and this problem might make things difficult for them. The charges were associated with the Federal Trade Commission in relation to the Federal Trade Commission. It is destined to cost around $5 billion fine to Facebook as a firm, but no personal liability harm will be there for its CEO, Mark Zuckerberg. However, this will force Facebook to make its privacy policies more secure.

All in all, this design flaw might cost Facebook a lot.

Victoria Parker, an employee currently living in USA and working at a top email service provider company in the day, and a technical writer at night. I am passionate about writing troubleshooting tips, beginner’s guides, news, and other articles on varied topics like Quicken Support, QuickBooks Payroll Support, QuickBooks Support, QuickBooks Data Recovery Support etc.