Following months of endless backlash, app designed specifically for younger s. Talk of the app began this past March, thanks to a leaked internal document. In that document, an Instagram executive told employees that "youth work" was becoming a priority for the company in an attempt to create "the safest possible experience for teens."
While the intentions behind Instagram Kids may be sound, the public response to it has been extremely critical. Just about a month later, the Campaign For A Commercial-Free Childhood sent a letter to Facebook urging the company to cease development of Instagram Kids. One month after that, the New York Attorney General sent her own letter to CEO Mark Zuckerberg. In the letter, Attorney General Letitia James scolded Facebook for not being "equipped to navigate the challenges" that would come with a youth-focused social media app.
Fast forward to September, and it appears all of that backlash has made a tangible impact. On September 27, 2021, ing apps that are meant for those 13 or older." Mosseri says he still "firmly believes" that Instagram Kids is a good solution to this problem, but for the time being, "we've [Instagram] decided to pause this project."
Why Instagram Decided To Pause Its Kids Application
The keyword here is that Instagram Kids is being 'paused' — not canceled. It may be months or years before Instagram Kids sees the light of day, but this is an initiative Instagram doesn't plan on outright abandoning. While the project is paused, Instagram will use this time to "work with parents, experts, policymakers and regulators, to listen to their concerns, and to demonstrate the value and importance of this project for younger teens online today." This all seems like stuff Instagram should have been doing before it needed to halt the project, but regardless, it's better than it's happening now than never.
Mosseri also uses the post to counter some of the criticism Instagram Kids has faced over the past few months. In Mosseri's eyes, the problem is that kids and teens are already online and using applications filled with both teens and adults. Because of this, "developing age-appropriate experiences designed specifically for them is far better for parents than where we are today." Mosseri continues to explain that Instagram Kids is only designed for kids aged 10-12, doesn't have ads, requires parental permission, etc. Some might continue to argue that an app like Instagram Kids is nothing but a prime target for predators and online bullying, but this is the stance Instagram is taking.
So, what does the immediate future hold for Instagram Kids? While the standalone app isn't releasing any time soon, Mosseri says Instagram is continuing to build s into the regular Instagram application — such as expanding supervision tools to teenagers on Instagram. This announcement is certainly a win for everyone who's been so vocal against Instagram Kids, but again, that victory is only temporary. Instagram Kids is coming at some point. Whenever its development resumes, expect the criticism to start piling on all over again.
Source: Instagram