Facebook Inc is reportedly developing a new version of
Instagram that it aims to create specifically for children aged less than 13
years. Vishal Shah, Instagram's vice president of product said that the company
has “identified youth work as a priority for Instagram.” He revealed that
Facebook will be “building a new youth pillar within the Community Product
Group to focus on two things: accelerating the integrity and privacy work to
ensure the safest possible experience for teens, and building a version of
Instagram that allows people under the age of 13 to safely use Instagram for
the first time."
Since Instagram does not allow users aged under 13 to create an account on the app, the company has decided to launch a new version of Instagram for this population. Head of Instagram, Adam Mosseri also confirmed the company’s plan by revealing that a new version of the app is currently being explored. "A version of Instagram where parents have control, like we did [with] Messenger Kids, is something we're exploring. We'll share more down the road," he wrote in his tweet.
Just before this news, Instagram had also shared information
about the latest updates that it is bringing to the platform to ensure enhanced
safety of its young user community.
The parent company of the app has taken a similar step in
the past by launching Messenger Kids for children between 6 to 12 years of age.
However, CEO of the company, Mark Zuckerberg received criticism from children's
health advocates who insisted that the product be discontinued as "excessive
use of digital devices and social media is harmful to children and teens,
making it very likely this new app will undermine children's healthy
development."
