[ digital. marketing. speak. ] by Vlad Gorenshteyn

A few months ago, I put together a digital strategy brief for a multinational media-conglomerate that would basically recreate the functionality of Facebook for one of their child-facing networks…

My first question was, “why are we creating something that already exists” which I quickly answered myself after I saw that the target demographic was 14 and younger. Facebook TOS requires users to be 13 or older which is only a one year campaign/platform overlap.

As I saw the above picture, I thought about how the modern child’s digital footprint starts (in many cases) long before conception and follows the little booger through their 13th birthday. 

Which brings me to my question: why doesn’t Facebook create a limited, sub-network geared specifically towards children (e.g. no advertising, adult-content filters, etc.) that would be administrated by a child’s parents or guardian and would give them access to the network they’re already signing up for themselves using false identities or with the help of their parents?

I’d love to hear the “objections” from parents who currently have a child that is younger than 13. Thank you!