Facebook & Messenger Kids: the parent’s guide
Messenger Kids is a real tool for under-13s. Here’s that setup plus teen Facebook privacy basics.
The age question
Facebook’s minimum age is 13. Most kids today use Instagram or TikTok instead; Facebook becomes relevant primarily for Messenger Kids (under 13) and Marketplace interactions (used by teens for concert tickets, clothing resale).
Messenger Kids (under 13)
A standalone app managed entirely by the parent. You approve every contact. No ads. No public posts. Parents can read the messages. Setup:
- Install Messenger Kids on your kid’s device.
- Sign in with your Facebook account; create a profile for your kid.
- Approve contacts one at a time, or connect with another parent.
- Use Parent Dashboard via your own Facebook to see activity.
Teen account on Facebook
- Private profile (friends only).
- Who can send friend requests: friends of friends.
- Who can look you up by phone/email: friends only.
- Turn off face recognition.
- Limit old posts with Privacy Checkup once a year.
- Marketplace: teens can browse but should not meet buyers/sellers in person without you.
Meta’s Family Center
Covers Facebook, Messenger, Instagram. Lets you see time spent, friend list changes, and reports without reading messages. Enable via your own Facebook / Instagram account.
Real risks
- Marketplace scams targeting teens buying sneakers, concert tickets, or game codes.
- Old public posts — old posts from middle school can resurface at college application time.
- Fake “friend” accounts cloned from real friends’ profiles.