cross-posted from: https://lemmy.today/post/63107763

I’m looking for something like Snikket or Prosody, but kids-oriented. I DON’T want my <10 daughter using Meta Messenger Kids! I’ll tell my friends to setup for their kids, too. I’d have no access to anything, so it’s secure (mom and dad not snooping per se), but the downside is minimal parental controls. Though, no one to really add either.

I’ll host or pay for it, IDC. It doesn’t seem like there is much out there either.

JusTalk seemed nice when I found out but apparently China owned and so no more secure. I/we need better options!

  • CameronDev@programming.devEnglish
    191·
    16 hours ago

    I dont have a good suggestion, but you may unintentionally be about to give your daughter a brutal lesson in network effects. If all her friends end up using something else, she will be isolated.

    • papercrane@lemmy.zipEnglish
      2·
      55 minutes ago

      As someone that went through Highschool when smart phones were first popular, it’s isolating being the only person not on instagram when everyone is using instagram (even if meta is bad).

      It’s a tough decision but if privacy matters more, it’s going to be harder to connect with more people. Idk which country you are in so maybe alternatives are super popular.

      • CameronDev@programming.devEnglish
        1·
        45 minutes ago

        Yeah, that’s exactly my point. I am not a parent, but in my opinion, it would be better to allow the use of whatever platform is the default, maybe provide an alternative, and give the child an age appropriate understanding of what using Instagram/Whatever means to them. “You can use it, but don’t say anything private like our address, because your private messages can be read by the company. If you need to say something private, use signal/matrix/whatever else, because that’s safe.”. Maybe if your lucky they can pass that knowledge to their friends as well.

        Kids are walking privacy violations at the best of times anyway, education needs to start early.

    • Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafeEnglish
      9·
      15 hours ago

      You’re not wrong.

      One upside - the kids will learn this, and also the value of separate communication channels.

      I’d I could get my family to switch to anything other than SMS I’d be happy.

      • CameronDev@programming.devEnglish
        7·
        15 hours ago

        Will 10yo’s actually value separate channels? Or will OP’s daughter just end up being the “other weird kid on the weird app we dont like”. I know nothing about 10yo’s though, maybe I am wrong.

        • Pika@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          4·
          9 hours ago

          the better question is, will 10 year old even use the separate channel, or are they just going to set up a fake/hidden account like every other child out there when given a restriction.