A ‘technical error’ on Facebook’s Messenger Kids app exposed children to strangers

Facebook is facing a user security problem once again, and this time it involves its Messenger Kids app, a platform where children can chat to contacts approved by their parents.

A report by The Verge on Monday revealed however, that children using the app were able to enter into group chats with strangers who were not approved by their parents, thanks to a “technical error”.

According to the publication, Facebook had been notifying parents of the issue, and shutting down the group chats.

“We found a technical error that allowed [child]’s friend [friend] to create a group chat with [child] and one or more of [friend]’s parent-approved friends,” read the alert obtained by The Verge.

A flaw in group chat permissions allowed children to enter group chats with their friends, as well as those friends approved contacts. Essentially, children were exposed to strangers.

“We turned off the affected chats and provided parents with additional resources on Messenger Kids and online safety,” a Facebook spokesperson reportedly confirmed.

It is believed that thousands of children were affected by the error.

This comes after Facebook’s many recent attempts to remedy and reiterate its “privacy-focused” intentions.

Feature image: Facebook