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I have to ask, what’s the benefit of the app to Facebook? Are they serving ads to kids? Or are they hoping to bring them up with Facebook firmly as part of thei

I have to ask, what’s the benefit of the app to Facebook? Are they serving ads to kids? Or are they hoping to bring them up with Facebook firmly as part of their digital identity?

derwiki 5y ago
Collect data now, profit later
- ronsor 5y ago
  That's probably illegal, and as far as I know the big tech companies take children's privacy at least somewhat seriously, as it's one of the few things that can land them in deep trouble if mishandled.
  - ixacto 5y ago
    Yes I think this is more a play for Facebook mindshare with parents.
    - AndrewUnmuted 5y ago
      Kids generate data in more ways than can be directly siphoned from the web service run by Facebook. It can be to their benefit simply because it pushes more Facebook traffic through the ISPs and other major infrastructure. A quick win on the business side, and a whole new venture for further tech development on the product side.
nineplay 5y ago
No ads, I think there is a bit of "If you like Facebook for kids, you'll _love_ Facebook for adults" It has been a lifesaver during covid. It is the way kids text/video chat with each other without a cell plan and with only approved contacts. I don't know what my kid would have done without it, it is a 2-3-4 hour virtual playdate when there are no other ways to connect with their friends.
- AndrewUnmuted 5y ago
  Who needs ads when you're giving parents an incentive to continue locking their children indoors? It seems most of the replies that are positive about this service, focus on the way they've helped rear children during Covid. That breaks my heart, since kids ought to be able to play with their friends in person anyway. Parents have been incredibly docile about lockdowns and have played along since there's been technology afoot to make it all go smoother. But this only works for a portion of the population that has the money, time, knowledge, and resources to secure such things for their kid. This is a terrible idea in practice in the way it imposes further hierarchy and inequity among kids. In-person, children are on equitable grounds with one another, but this creates a void of separation where rich kids will be able to dominate over the poorer ones.
  - nineplay 5y ago
    > kids ought to be able to play with their friends in person anyway That is and was debatable during the lockdown. We didn't, and we don't regret our choice. Even if now it is clearer that kids are not as susceptible to Covid, it wasn't clear at the beginning and I don't regret erring on the side of caution.
israrkhan 5y ago
The younger generation is mostly using alternate platforms, like snapchat. Facebook can benefit by hooking the kids to its platform at earlier stage and profit from it later.
agogdog 5y ago
Brand affinity. Think about how many millennials feel about AOL Instant Messenger.
llarsson 5y ago
Maybe show ads to the parents based on what the kids have been talking about? Not displaying ads to the kids does not mean the data just gets thrown away, after all.
- CameronNemo 5y ago
  Not to mention that once the kid comes of age, Facebook will already have a huge profile built of the person.
johnchristopher 5y ago
> bring them up with Facebook firmly as part of their digital identity? This. It's a gateway drug.
wmeredith 5y ago
The same reason 2 year olds get into Disney World for free. Facebook is inserting its brand into children’s lives early and it’s further cementing their relationship with the parents. This obviously has a monetary value.

I have to ask, what’s the benefit of the app to Facebook? Are they serving ads to kids? Or are they hoping to bring them up with Facebook firmly as part of their digital identity?

derwiki 5y ago

Collect data now, profit later

ronsor 5y ago
That's probably illegal, and as far as I know the big tech companies take children's privacy at least somewhat seriously, as it's one of the few things that can land them in deep trouble if mishandled.
- ixacto 5y ago
  Yes I think this is more a play for Facebook mindshare with parents.
  - AndrewUnmuted 5y ago
    Kids generate data in more ways than can be directly siphoned from the web service run by Facebook. It can be to their benefit simply because it pushes more Facebook traffic through the ISPs and other major infrastructure. A quick win on the business side, and a whole new venture for further tech development on the product side.

nineplay 5y ago

No ads, I think there is a bit of "If you like Facebook for kids, you'll _love_ Facebook for adults" It has been a lifesaver during covid. It is the way kids text/video chat with each other without a cell plan and with only approved contacts. I don't know what my kid would have done without it, it is a 2-3-4 hour virtual playdate when there are no other ways to connect with their friends.

AndrewUnmuted 5y ago
Who needs ads when you're giving parents an incentive to continue locking their children indoors? It seems most of the replies that are positive about this service, focus on the way they've helped rear children during Covid. That breaks my heart, since kids ought to be able to play with their friends in person anyway. Parents have been incredibly docile about lockdowns and have played along since there's been technology afoot to make it all go smoother. But this only works for a portion of the population that has the money, time, knowledge, and resources to secure such things for their kid. This is a terrible idea in practice in the way it imposes further hierarchy and inequity among kids. In-person, children are on equitable grounds with one another, but this creates a void of separation where rich kids will be able to dominate over the poorer ones.
- nineplay 5y ago
  > kids ought to be able to play with their friends in person anyway That is and was debatable during the lockdown. We didn't, and we don't regret our choice. Even if now it is clearer that kids are not as susceptible to Covid, it wasn't clear at the beginning and I don't regret erring on the side of caution.

israrkhan 5y ago

The younger generation is mostly using alternate platforms, like snapchat. Facebook can benefit by hooking the kids to its platform at earlier stage and profit from it later.

agogdog 5y ago

Brand affinity. Think about how many millennials feel about AOL Instant Messenger.

llarsson 5y ago

Maybe show ads to the parents based on what the kids have been talking about? Not displaying ads to the kids does not mean the data just gets thrown away, after all.

CameronNemo 5y ago
Not to mention that once the kid comes of age, Facebook will already have a huge profile built of the person.

johnchristopher 5y ago

> bring them up with Facebook firmly as part of their digital identity? This. It's a gateway drug.

wmeredith 5y ago

The same reason 2 year olds get into Disney World for free. Facebook is inserting its brand into children’s lives early and it’s further cementing their relationship with the parents. This obviously has a monetary value.