Instagram Kids Version Put On Hold, After Public Outcry Against Facebook
Facebook-owned Instagram's plans to release a kids-only version of social networking platform was doomed from the start and now the company appears to have paused its development.
Called "Instagram Kids", the app was being development with the aim to cater to kids younger than 13. Amid ongoing privacy investigations that have taken tech companies like Facebook by storm, the need for a kid version of the app was questioned.
Why Instagram is under pressure
In fact, a recent Instagram leak highlighted how the company has been largely aware of its harmful effects on teenagers, especially girls. The internal documents that were leaked showed how Instagram was in touch with how the platform harms body image of teenage girls, while putting them at risk of self harm and mental health troubles.
US lawmakers have been especially wary of a potential Instagram for kids, urging the platform to can its plans for the same for the company's failure to take enough measures to protect children on the app.
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Instagram's statement though, makes it sound like that the work on Instagram Kids is merely being delayed. "We believe building 'Instagram Kids' is the right thing to do, but we're pausing the work", the blog post read.?The company added that it will continue to work on its host of supervision tools for parents to limit what their kids are doing on their platforms.
With Instagram Kids, the social networking app hoped to create "age-appropriate experiences for kids" and claimed that it would be a much stronger resource than just parental controls.
Also read:?Instagram Ruins Teenage Girls' Self-Image, And Facebook Knows About It
In May, 40 US state attorney generals urged Mark Zuckerberg to drop plans to release an app for kids. In the intensely worded letter, the officials highlighted how social media is "detrimental to the health and well-being of children" while alleging that Facebook has failed to protect children on its platform.
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