Gaurav Rathore
His write-ups blend creativity, personal experience, and tailored technical advice, meeting reader needs effectively.
If you are familiar with Facebook, you might have heard of its popular messaging functionality, which was later separated from the main app and became the widespread Messenger app.
However, similar to Facebook, Messenger was also criticized by agonized parents for allegedly causing an invasion of privacy and a possible data breach. Although Facebook addressed the controversy, netizens continue to be skeptical of its credibility.
So, if you have a child who actively uses Messenger and its services, you must read this blog to the end and learn whether the app is truly safe. So, let’s jump straight in!
Quick Answer:
Messenger is a free instant messaging app that allows you to chat and share content freely with your Facebook friends and phone contacts. However, the app poses privacy and safety concerns for children, which might put them at risk.
Messenger, also known as Facebook Messenger, is a messaging app owned by Facebook that allows you to share photos, videos, and audio recordings and chat in groups with your Facebook friends and phone contacts.
Messenger, owned by Meta Platforms, was launched in 2011 to replace Facebook Chat, and is free to download on Android, iOS, and the web. With over 2.9 billion monthly active users, Facebook has become the most popular social media platform worldwide.
Many people confuse Messenger with Facebook, as it was the same app at some point. However, Messenger is a separate app from Facebook, so you don’t necessarily need a Facebook account to start chatting.
According to Facebook’s terms of service, users must be at least 13 years old or older to create an account on Messenger.
Although the age rating on the Google Play Store and the Apple Store is 12+, I recommend you follow Facebook’s age rating to avoid potential risks.
Why do Teens Like Messenger?
Teens like this app because it is free to download, easy to use, makes it easy to connect with friends on Facebook and friends on phone books, and allows kids to send colorful stickers to their buddies.
For Messenger setup, first, you must download the app on your device and create an account using your Facebook profile or mobile number.
If you choose your Facebook account to create a profile, the platform will use your Facebook information, like your friends list, profile picture, and other data.
Once you are done setting up your profile and syncing contacts, you can begin chatting with your friends.
Here, I’ve listed the app’s features that set it apart from the other chatting services. So, let’s take a look!
No, the Messenger app is not safe for kids! This app seriously lacks security and is getting worse as the days go by, causing distress to many users and parents alike.
There has also been a controversy that ‘the app uses your phone camera and recorder without your permission, collects information about you, and sells it to third parties,’ which can be utterly disturbing for the parents, if proven true.
The other primary concern with this app is encryption. The CEO of Facebook is claiming to work towards building an end-to-end encrypted messaging app; however, the encryption process is still rolling out and might take years.
In simple terms, without encryption on Messenger, anyone could read your kids’ messages and abuse their personal information for personal benefit.
Yes, Messenger has parental controls!
In 2023, Meta announced parental supervision tools on Messenger limited to only a few countries and later made global. In a nutshell, the parental supervision feature allows you to:
Apart from that, there is also a feature, Restricted accounts, where you can add suspicious accounts without blocking them.
This chatting app is often considered unsafe for kids, so let’s look at what truly makes it so risky.
Similar to other social media platforms, it’s common for your child to experience harassment and bullying on the app. On top of that, the anonymity of strangers acts as a perfect shield for the perpetrators to use your child and satisfy their twisted needs.
As the app is rated 13+, there’s a high chance your kid might encounter some explicit content in adult chat groups.
Messenger has this feature that allows you to explore new friends. However, this feature often backfires and results in child grooming and sextortion.
Lack of privacy has always been a primary concern for Facebook users, and Messenger is no exception. The terms and conditions of the app involve your consent to store your chats and recordings, which is a major data breach.
As I’ve mentioned earlier, Messenger poses some serious concerns, and thus, as a parent, you can’t just brush it through. Hence, I’ve listed some proactive measures to help you keep your kids out of danger, so let’s take a look!
If you are worried about who is in your Messenger’s contact list, you can simply head to settings and turn off syncing contacts. You can also filter the ‘Who can contact me’ settings to ensure no creepy stranger reaches your child.
The location-sharing feature may go wrong while chatting with strangers, and thus, you must turn off the location services on your child’s device.
Teaching your child what is okay to post and what isn’t while chatting with strangers.
Teach them how to report, delete, or block a user to avoid unpredictable situations, like when encountering explicit content or profane language.
Set up parental controls on the app, like supervision and end-to-end encryption, on your child’s account.
If you think parental controls are insufficient to protect your child, install a third-party parental control app on your teen’s device to add an extra layer of security.
With end-to-end encryption, Messenger can be a safe chatting haven for kids. However, as it is still under process, you must exercise caution and take proactive steps to protect your child.
If you think your child isn’t mature enough to deal with the privacy loopholes of the app, you can introduce them to safer alternatives, like Signal, WhatsApp, Telegram, or Viber.
No, Messenger is not okay for a 10-year-old child, as the minimum age limit to use Messenger is 13 years old.
Messenger does not have robust end-to-end encryption, while WhatsApp’s encryption and safety measures surpass Messenger.
Yes, Messenger collects data from users to improve the app’s performance.
