Messenger Kids for iOS

Messenger Kids is Facebook's new kid-friendly, parent-approved standalone messaging app.

Pros

Easy and secure registration: Parents must first authorize their child's device to use Messenger Kids by signing in to their own Facebook account in app and then providing their child's name. Then tap "Create Account" and "Allow Access," so your child is alerted when new messages arrive and is able to send and receive messages and make and receive phone calls.

Parental controls: Once your child is registered, their messages don't disappear and cannot be hidden in case you want to see what they're up to. Parents also must approve their child's contact list one by one and may remove any troublesome contacts at any time. If a child submits a report about a bothersome contact or troubling content, their parent will be alerted.

Easy to navigate: From your child's main dashboard page, they can tap the camera icon on the top left to take a photo or the plus button on the top right to start a new chat. They can also message an existing contact by tapping their profile picture.

A variety of messaging types: Aside from text messaging, kids can send a photo or video with Snapchat-like stickers, GIFs, frames, and emojis; make a phone call to one person or a group; or send a voice message in chats.

Nice customizations: After taking your photo, you are able to choose a color with which to decorate your app.

Privacy: Your child's name and picture are only visible to people who've created Messenger Kids accounts for their children and those whom you approve as contacts. Additionally, Messenger Kids will store kids' messages and their device info, but it won't share these with other users.

Free: The app is free without ads or in-app purchases.

Cons

Can't use existing photos for your profile photo: It would be great if users could cull their profile photo from existing photos, but this doesn't appear to be an available option.

Bottom Line

Messenger Kids is a fun -- and more important -- safe app that your chatting child would benefit from.