Is the Messenger Kids App Safe? A Messenger Kids App Review for Parents

Harmful Content 😲

Because of the built-in safeguards the app has, the primary dangers kids face are interactions with existing friends and acquaintances, rather than strangers. A common risk to kids is cyberbullying, which can take place both in text chats and through sent images/videos. Even with Messenger Kids, parents may only find out about it after the fact, unfortunately, so it’s something to be aware of. 

The major blind spot in Messenger Kids, though, is the video functionality. While parents can see who their child called and when they called them, no record is left of the interaction itself. This means that if your child experienced bullying or other issues like inappropriate or offensive content over live video chats, there would be no evidence.

Predation 🚨

Apart from a 2019 bug that temporarily allowed strangers into some group chats, Messenger Kids is a remarkably secure app for kids wishing to chat and video call with friends and family members. Kids can’t message anyone their parents don’t approve of first.

Privacy 🔒

Messenger Kids is a pretty locked-down app, so privacy is a big selling point. Strangers can’t search for or find your kid’s profile, which is definitely comforting. Everything is tied to your account, and you’re in complete control of what your child can do.

Parental Controls ✅

Messenger Kids is not only completely managed by parents, but it also has very robust parental controls, including features like:

• Supervised friending — Edit the contact list and monitor friending activity in the Parent Dashboard.
• Sleep mode — Control which days and times your child can use the app.
• Blocking and reporting — Get notified whenever your kids block or report someone.
• Downloadable information — Access your child’s data, including their contact list, messages, images, and videos.
• Complete chat history — See who your child is chatting with and how frequently over the last 30 days.
• Image log —  See the most recent photos and videos your child has sent and received. 

Bark also provides support for families who use the Messenger Kids app. We’re here to help you keep your child safe by allowing you to:

• Block Messenger Kids entirely, if needed.
• Manage when your child can use it throughout the day.
• Monitor direct messages (text chat only) on Androids, Kindle Fires, and Pinwheel phones.

We’re continually advocating and working for Messenger Kids to allow iOS monitoring.

So, should my kid download it?

Yes, for kids about 7 and above! Because your kid’s account is connected to yours, you manage who they can chat with. You can also view every message they send, so you’ll be able to know what’s being discussed when they use the Messenger Kids app.