Facebook’s Messenger Kids is a free messaging app for children under 13, equipped with parental controls. Parents can oversee their child’s activities directly from their Facebook account, ensuring kids communicate safely with friends and family in a controlled digital environment. This guide details how to configure Messenger Kids parental controls.
1. Create a Messenger Kids Account for Your Child
Children under 13 cannot have standard Facebook accounts, but Messenger Kids allows kids aged 6–12 to connect online. You can set up an account for your child using your Facebook account.
Steps:
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Download Messenger Kids from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store on your child’s device.
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Open the app and tap “Confirm.”
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Log in with your Facebook credentials and select “Authorize device.”
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Enter your child’s details, then tap “Continue” > “Creating account” to finalize.
Alternative Method (via Facebook App):
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Open the Facebook app and log in.
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Tap the “Menu” button (bottom-right corner).
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Select “Messenger Kids.”
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Tap “Create Another Account.”
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Enter your child’s name and tap “Continue.”
2. Manage Contacts on Messenger Kids
From your Parent Dashboard, you can supervise your child’s contacts, including adding, removing, or helping them connect with friends.
Supervise Friending
Choose how your child adds friends with two options:
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My child can choose friends: Your child can add or remove friends, with notifications sent to you. You retain the ability to manage contacts via the Parent Dashboard.
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Only I can choose friends: Only parents or guardians can add or remove friends.
Steps:
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In the Facebook app, go to “Menu” > “Messenger Kids.”
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Select your child’s name and tap “CONTROLS.”
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Choose “Friending.”
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Select your preferred option and tap “Save.”
Add and Remove Contacts
Manage your child’s contacts through the Parent Dashboard.
To Add a Contact:
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Open the Facebook app and go to “Menu” (top-right).
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Navigate to “Messenger Kids” and select your child’s account.
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Tap “Contacts” > “Choose people.”
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Select “Add” to include a contact.
To Remove a Contact:
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Tap “Next” on the contact’s name.
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Select “Remove.”
Desktop Alternative:
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Log into Facebook on a browser.
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Go to “News Feed” > “Explore” > “Messenger Kids.”
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Select your child’s account.
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Choose “Choose contact” to add or “Next” to remove.
If your child’s friends aren’t on Messenger Kids, you can invite them, and their parent/guardian will receive the invitation.
Help Your Child Connect with More Friends
The “Connect with More Friends” feature makes your child’s profile visible to friends-of-friends or children of invited parents, allowing friend requests.
Steps:
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In the Facebook app, go to “Messenger Kids.”
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Select your child’s profile and tap “Control.”
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Choose “Help [Child’s Name] Connect” (e.g., “Help Jane Connect”).
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Tap “Next” to enable friend requests from friends-of-friends.
Share Codes to Add Friends:
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Open Messenger Kids and view your child’s profile.
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Find the four-word code below their profile picture.
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Tap to copy and share with friends, who can use it to request a chat.
Use Codes to Add Friends:
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In Messenger Kids, go to “Add a Friend.”
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Enter the code and tap “Ask to Chat.”
Block a Contact:Blocked contacts are listed separately, visible in your Parent Dashboard.
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In Messenger Kids, scroll to the contact.
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Tap their profile picture, then select “Block.”
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Confirm by tapping “Block.”
3. Monitor Messenger Kids Activity
View Activity Report
The Parent Dashboard includes “ACTIVITY,” “CONTACTS,” and “CONTROL” tabs. The ACTIVITY tab displays recent contacts, group updates, chat images, and reported/blocked contacts.
Steps:
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Open the Facebook app.
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Go to “Menu” > “Messenger Kids.”
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Select your child’s profile and tap the “ACTIVITY” tab.
Monitor, Remove, and Report Images
You can remove images sent or received by your child via the ACTIVITY tab. Removed images are also deleted from your view, but remain visible to the other party unless their parent removes them.
Steps:
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Open the Facebook app and go to “Menu” > “Messenger Kids.”
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Select your child’s profile and go to “Images in Chats” under “ACTIVITY.”
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Tap an image, then select the “i” icon.
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Choose “Remove Image” or “Report this Image.”
Download Your Child’s Information
Downloading your child’s account data includes chat history, contact frequency, and media shared. Your child is notified of the download.
Steps:
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In the Facebook app, go to “Menu” > “Messenger Kids.”
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Select your child’s profile and tap “CONTROLS.”
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Tap “Download [Child’s Name]’s Information” (e.g., “Download Noah’s Information”).
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Select the desired data and tap “CREATE FILE.”
4. Manage Messenger Kids Usage
Set Up Sleep Mode
Sleep Mode schedules when the app is inaccessible to prevent overuse. You can set activation and deactivation times.
Steps:
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In the Facebook app, go to “Menu” > “Messenger Kids.”
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Select your child’s account.
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Under “CONTROL,” tap “Sleep Mode.”
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Toggle the button and set start/stop times.
Desktop Alternative:
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Log into Facebook on a browser.
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Select “Messenger Kids” from the left menu and follow the same steps.
Log Off Child’s Account from Another Device
Remotely log your child out of devices they no longer use.
Steps:
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In the Facebook app, go to “Menu” > “Messenger Kids.”
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Select your child’s profile.
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Under “CONTROL,” tap “Log out of Devices.”
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Tap “Log out” next to the device.
Online Status
Control whether your child’s contacts can see their online status.
Steps:
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Under “CONTROL,” tap “Online Status.”
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Toggle the “Let [Child’s Name]’s Contacts See When [Child’s Name]’s Online” button.
Delete Kids’ Account
You can delete your child’s Messenger Kids account from the Parent Dashboard.
Steps:
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In the Parent Dashboard, go to “CONTROL.”
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Tap “Edit Info” > “Delete Account.”
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Confirm by selecting “Delete.”
Conclusion
Messenger Kids offers a secure platform for kids, with robust parental controls. This guide outlines how to set up and manage those controls effectively. For enhanced protection, consider a comprehensive parental control app like FamiLocator, which provides extensive online and offline safety features. Try it free today.
FAQs about Messenger Kids Parental Control
How Do I Put Parental Control on My Kid’s Messenger?
Use your Facebook account’s Parent Dashboard:
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Go to “Menu” > “Messenger Kids.”
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Select your child’s profile to manage activity, contacts, and app usage.
Can Both Parents Control Kids’ Messenger?
Yes, multiple parents can manage a child’s account after being added:
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Go to “Menu” > “Messenger Kids.”
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Select the child’s profile to manage settings.
Can Parents See What You Send on Messenger Kids?
Yes, parents can view sent/received messages, chats, and friend lists via the Parent Dashboard. Kids cannot delete chat history, so all content is accessible.
How Can I Monitor My Child’s Facebook?
Use the Parent Dashboard to oversee Messenger Kids activity. For broader monitoring, use a parental control app like FamiLocator to track Facebook usage.
Can a Parent Delete Messages on Kids’ Messenger?
Kids cannot delete messages, but parents can remove inappropriate messages or images from the Parent Dashboard.
