This New York Times article is trying to explain why Facebook is launching a version of its messenger app for kids. Honestly, do we actually care?
It is almost impossible to find a good reason for this move. I work in product development by day and the #1 rule of developing a product is to build what your customer wants and is willing to pay for. In this case, Facebook (not the customer or users) has decided that this is a great way to build a pipeline for future consumers of their product. This new messenger product is targeted to 6 to 12 year olds. I have a six-year-old daughter who has no idea how to text nor am I itching to establish that mode of communication with her. So Facebook thinking it is necessary for my six year old to be “facebook aware” in anticipation of her 13th birthday, when she will be old enough to use Facebook, is ridiculous.
Technology is amazing when it’s useful, practical and functional but technology for technology sake, like in this particular case, is both irresponsible and dangerous.
Source: NY Times
