New Facebook app for children ignites debate among families

San Francisco

FEW big-technology companies have dared to create online products for boys and girls ages 13 and younger.

But on Monday, Facebook introduced Messenger Kids, an app targeted at that age group and asked parents to give their approval so children can message, add filters and doodle on photos they send to one another. It is a bet that the app can introduce a new generation of users to the Silicon Valley giant's ever-expanding social-media universe.