Report: “Facebook’s New App for Kids Creates Privacy Concerns”

Quick Comment by infoDOCKET Founder/Editor, Gary Price:
We would not be surprised (in fact, we would be pleased) if requests for more information about how the app discussed below app works are sent by privacy groups to the FTC and government leaders. From the sound of it, an app with ZERO privacy controls is a terrible idea. Not to mention an app that’s being marketed to teens by a company, Facebook, that should know better.
From AdAge:

Facebook’s new teen-targeted app is drawing privacy concerns.
The app, dubbed Lifestage, was built for high-schoolers to share videos and connect locally, but it lacks privacy settings, requests personal information and makes all content public.
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There are some safety measures, including the fact that a person needs a working phone number to sign up. They also have to be 21 or younger to view any of the content.
“We are releasing Lifestage to a limited number of high schools,” a Facebook spokesperson said in a statement. “Lifestage will not provide access to content from other people for users who list an age above 21. We encourage anyone using the app who experiences or witnesses any concerning activity to report it to us through the reporting options built into the app. We take these reports seriously. Unlike other places on the web, Lifestage is tied to a person’s phone number and only one account is allowed per phone number — this provides an additional level of protection and enforcement.”

Read the Complete Article
Additional Coverage
Privacy-flouting, Apple-only social app Lifestage is Facebook’s desperate attempt to stay relevant to teens (via BetaNews)
See Also: Facebook’s new Lifestage app for teens is another Snapchat clone (via CNN)
See Also: Lifestage Page (via iTunes App Store)
On a Related Note (Social Media)…
Forecast: US Snapchat Users Will Increase by Double-Digit Percentages This Year and Next (via eMarketer)

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