Facebook Messenger for Kids gets an overhaul but few things stay the same

The social media giant is rolling out the new look for iPhones in the US and Canada and will bring it to other regions in a few months.

Facebook Messenger for Kids. (Facebook)

Facebook is updating its Messenger Kids app's design so they find it easier to interact with their friends, navigate the app and personalize their chats. The social media giant is rolling out the new look for iPhones in the US and Canada and will bring it to other regions in a few months. 

“We worked closely with kids and parents to understand what they loved about Messenger Kids and what they thought would make it even better – and we're excited to share this new experience with you,” states the post.

There is a dedicated “Chat” and “Explore” navigation tabs now at the bottom of the inbox. This will let kids switch between their conversations and in-app activities easily. The chat tab layout has also been changed, bringing recently active conversations to the top. In addition, kids can now see media and message previews and have the ability to start a call with a “swipe” gesture right from inside the inbox.

A bit of personalisation elements is also there in the latest app version. Kids can now choose a custom chat bubble colour to personalize their 1:1 and group conversations.

But everything has not changed. A few features stay the same. This includes controls for parents from the daashboard and Messenger Kids Pledge and “4 Things About Your Info” flow to tell kids about how their information is used and shared.

Facebook Messenger for Kids came out in 2017 and was meant for children before the age of 13 years. However, it has seen a considerable growth over the year. Earlier this year, the app launched in over 70 new countries.