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Controversial Facebook Messenger Kids App Lands on Android

Child advocates have called for the app's discontinuation, but Facebook is instead making Messenger Kids more widely available.

 & Angela Moscaritolo Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.

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In a move that likely won't go over well with many child advocates, Facebook is making its controversial Messenger Kids app more widely available.

As TechCrunch first reported, the social network launched Messenger Kids on Android today. The app—Facebook's first built especially for children—hit iOS devices in December and launched on Amazon Fire tablets last month.

More than 100 child advocates and experts—including groups like the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, ACLU of Massachusetts, and Parents Across America—have called the app "irresponsible," especially in light of research indicating that excessive use of social media is detrimental to children and teens. In a letter to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg late last month, they urged Facebook to discontinue the app over concerns that it will "undermine children's healthy development."

Facebook last month told PCMag it had no plans to discontinue Messenger Kids any time soon. "We continue to be focused on making Messenger Kids be the best experience it can be for families," the company wrote. "We have been very clear that there is no advertising in Messenger Kids."

As of today, Messenger Kids is available for download in the Google Play store, complete with some new Valentine's Day-themed stickers.

The ad-free app can be installed on a child's smartphone or tablet, but controlled from a parent's Facebook account. When they open up the app, kids see a list of approved contacts they can call for a one-on-one or group video chat.

About Our Expert

Angela Moscaritolo

Angela Moscaritolo

Managing Editor, Consumer Electronics

My Experience

I'm PCMag's managing editor for consumer electronics, overseeing an experienced team of analysts covering smart home, home entertainment, wearables, fitness and health tech, and various other product categories. I have been with PCMag for more than 10 years, and in that time have written more than 6,000 articles and reviews for the site. I previously served as an analyst focused on smart home and wearable devices, and before that I was a reporter covering consumer tech news. I'm also a yoga instructor, and have been actively teaching group and private classes for nearly a decade. 

Prior to joining PCMag, I was a reporter for SC Magazine, focusing on hackers and computer security. I earned a BS in journalism from West Virginia University, and started my career writing for newspapers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.

The Technology I Use

My little Florida beach bungalow is brimming with smart home tech. I have a smart speaker or display in every room, allowing me to control other connected devices by voice. The Nest Hub on my bedside table lets me set wake-up alarms, control my smart light bulbs, and set the temperature on my smart thermostat. I use the Amazon Echo Show 8 on my kitchen counter to browse recipes, reorder protein powder, check the weather, and watch the news while I do dishes. 

Because I suffer from allergies, air purifiers are essential. My favorite model is the Dyson Purifier Cool TP07, which doubles as a fan and continuously sends indoor pollution data to its companion mobile app. 

My pitbull Bradley sheds, so a good robot vacuum is a must. I currently use a premium Ecovacs Deebot that can both vacuum and mop, empty its own dustbin, and wash its own mop cloth. 

For fitness, I like to mix up my routine with cycling, indoor rowing, running, and strength training in addition to yoga. I take classes on the Tonal 2 smart strength training machine, I row indoors on an Aviron machine, and track my beach runs with an Apple Watch while listening to music on my Apple AirPods Pro. On the weekends, I love riding e-bikes like the rugged, beach-friendly Aventon Aventure for fun and fitness.

My job involves a lot of virtual meetings, so a quality webcam, microphone, and ring light are important. I use the Jabra PanaCast 20 webcam, the Elgato Wave: 3 microphone, and a Yesker tripod ring light. 

As for my preferred phone platform, I'm an iPhone person, but I've also extensively used Android for product testing.

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