Facebook Inc. recently announced that it intends to launch Instagram for kids. Although concerns have been expressed, we briefly explore both side of the debate.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Over the past several weeks there has been a growing debate about Facebook Inc.\u2019s plan to launch Instagram for kids, which would cater to children under the age of 13. Facebook Inc. owns Instagram, the latter, which has grown in popularity over the years, and currently has over a billion subscribers. Moreover, the platform is among the most popular among users under the age of 35, who also is the target market for advertising.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Although Facebook is the world\u2019s largest social network, with over 2.7 billion users, there still seems to be a cachet around Instagram, which suggests that its popularity will not be waning anytime soon. Younger users, in particular, either are deleting or abandoning their Facebook accounts, or are bypassing Facebook altogether, in favour of Instagram and other platforms (such as SnapChat or TikTok).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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There are many reasons for that. The first is that it is a platform designed around images, and in environment in which a picture says 1,000 words, much can be inferred. Instagram was one of the first social networks built for smartphones. It is designed for mobile devices; hence the app is not a watered down version of what would be experienced on desktop devices or going to a website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Further, in being mobile-focussed, it really allows users to capture, edit and post their images almost in real-time. It was among the first social network apps to introduce ordinary users to filters and photo-editing tools, and encouraged their use to create the \u2018perfect shot\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finally, although Instagram will be 11 years old, it still seems fresh and innovative. For example, Instagram Stories, which was launched in 2016, allows users post photos or videos that disappear after 24 hours. The feature was not only a game-changer for Instagram, as use of the platform exploded, it led to similar features being launched on other social networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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According to a poll by Pew Research Center, in the United States, 11% of parents say their 9\u201411 year-olds use Instagram, although the platform requires users to be at least 13 years old (Source: Hootsuite<\/a>). Based on the popularity of Instagram among young adults, and the increasing requests from children to join the platform, Facebook decided in March 2021 that it would build Instagram for Kids \u2013 similar to what it did with Messenger Kids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As much as there has been growing use of the Internet and computing devices among children, there has also has been growing concern of the impact of that use on their development. As was noted in our interview with Clinical Neuropsychologist, Dr Rodney Stewart<\/a>, the cases of digital addiction and depression are increasing, and among children, a broader range of mental and physical health issues are being observed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n