Facebook announces it is building Instagram app for kids under 13

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Facebook Inc., the parent company of Instagram is planning to build a version of its app targeted specifically toward children under 13, BuzzFeed News reported.

“We have identified youth work as a priority for Instagram and have added it to our H1 priority list, Instagram vice president of product Vishal Shah said in an internal memo, according to BuzzFeed.

“We will be building a new youth pillar within the Community Product Group to focus on two things: (a) accelerating our integrity and privacy work to ensure the safest possible experience for teens and (b) building a version of Instagram that allows people under the age of 13 to safely use Instagram for the first time,” Shah added, according to BuzzFeed.

Instagram currently prohibits children under 13 years of age from using the app unless the account is managed by parent or an adult on behalf of the child.

“Increasingly kids are asking their parents if they can join apps that help them keep up with their friends. Right now there aren’t many options for parents, so we’re working on building additional products — like we did with Messenger Kids — that are suitable for kids, managed by parents,” a Facebook spokesperson told Insider in a statement.