facebook’s messenger kids app redesigned to look more like messenger

Facebook is currently releasing a refreshed version of its Messenger Kids application, designed to enhance how children connect with friends and family, simplify app navigation, and allow for greater personalization through options like customized chat bubble colors. This update also aligns the app’s appearance more closely with the standard Messenger platform.

The revised application moves away from the previous design featuring large, animated message notifications, adopting a more conventional messaging format with conversations displayed in a vertically arranged list. Unread messages are now prominently highlighted at the top of the inbox, appearing in bold text accompanied by a blue indicator. Message and media previews have also been incorporated, providing children with a clearer view of recent activity within their chats.

This redesign introduces a streamlined navigation system with dedicated “Chat” and “Explore” tabs located at the bottom of the screen. This allows children to easily switch between their ongoing conversations and the app’s additional features, such as its integrated mini-games.

Furthermore, children can now initiate calls directly from their inbox using a simple swipe gesture.

The update also includes a new feature enabling personalization of conversations, both individual and group chats, through the selection of custom chat bubble colors.

Facebook characterizes this update as a “test,” however, the changes represent a substantial overhaul of the app’s layout, navigation, and functionality – exceeding the scope of minor adjustments. This suggests the changes are unlikely to be reversed based on user feedback. By framing it as a test, Facebook provides itself with additional time before a full, worldwide release.

Initially, the new features will be available to children using iPhones in the United States and Canada. The update is planned to expand to other devices and regions in the coming months.

These changes follow a recent significant update to the main Messenger app, which included a visual refresh and new features such as chat themes, personalized reactions, selfie stickers, and vanish mode, as well as compatibility with Instagram users for cross-app messaging. The shared underlying messaging infrastructure may have contributed to the redesign of Messenger Kids.

The Messenger Kids app has undergone continuous updates since its launch, most recently including a detailed explanation of Facebook’s data collection practices.

Parents should be informed that this application currently gathers a considerable amount of personal data, including names, profile pictures, demographic information (gender and date of birth), a child’s relationship to their parents, contact details (such as frequently contacted individuals), app usage patterns, device characteristics and unique identifiers, data from device settings (like time zones or access to the camera and photos), network information, and data submitted through bug reports or feedback forms. While some of this data collection is necessary for the app’s functionality, concerns exist among some parents regarding the potential uses of this information.

Although the app offers a range of parental controls to help monitor and limit children’s online interactions, Messenger Kids’ privacy policy still allows for flexibility in how data may be used to “evaluate, troubleshoot, improve, create, and develop our products” and shared with other Facebook Companies. Parents should carefully consider the potential risks of allowing their child to use a Facebook product alongside the benefits of an app with comprehensive parental controls.