Facebook launches Snapchat for kids 👶

Today Facebook's COO and parent, Sheryl Sandberg, introduced their newest app, Messenger Kids.

The app looks a lot like Snapchat, Houseparty, and Facebook's Bonfire with a focus on playful face filters and group video chat. But unlike these incumbents, Messenger Kids puts parents in control, COPPA compliant so even children under 13 years old can participate.

Unsurprisingly, the app was met with mixed reactions. Cynics might criticize the app as solely a diabolical plan to incubate a new generation of Facebook addicts. Optimists see this as a way to empower kids to participate in our digital future, in a safe way. Regardless of your POV, this is a smart way for 14-year-old Facebook to bring a new generation of people into its ecosystem.

What do you think? Add your thoughts in the discussion. 🤔

Check Out Messenger Kids

Grow your app with Setapp: revenue, users, & AI

You shipped the app. Now comes the part nobody warns you about.

Billing across dozens of countries. Licensing agreements. Tax compliance. Customer support for users you haven't met yet. And if your app does anything with AI, add provider management and infrastructure costs to the pile. None of that is why you started building — but all of it is now your problem.

Setapp is trying to take it off your plate.

You probably know Setapp as the subscription marketplace — one monthly price, hundreds of Mac apps. On May 21st, they turned toward developers. The pitch is simple: list your app, reach users who are already looking, and let Setapp handle the business layer.