this post was submitted on 10 Nov 2026
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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!

top 17 comments
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[–] Joelk111@lemmy.world 8 points 1 hour ago (2 children)

TIL Meta Messenger Kids exists. Yikes.

[–] spankysalmon@fedinsfw.app 4 points 1 hour ago

Not just for kids. They let politicians and billionaires on there, too!

... /s ... oh GOD I hope /s

[–] unitedwithme@lemmy.today 3 points 1 hour ago

Just building shadow profiles until they hit 13 to syphon the fuck out of everyone's data!

I found out any pictures you upload to FB of your kids, each get their own profile, frequency they appear on your orioles, etc. They build massive profiles around these kids just to tie it all together later!

[–] fleem@piefed.zeromedia.vip 1 points 30 minutes ago

snikket! you can host it yourself or let jmp run it for you!

been using it for years after matrix was heavy and hard to maintain

snikket is a docker!

[–] CameronDev@programming.dev 5 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 4 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

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.dev 3 points 55 minutes ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 2 points 39 minutes ago

I kind of meant as they go. At some point it'll make sense to them.

[–] CMDR_Horn@lemmy.world 6 points 2 hours ago (5 children)

Setup a private matrix instance

[–] semperverus@lemmy.world 1 points 1 minute ago* (last edited 54 seconds ago)

Hell even the default one is better than everything else out there besides signal and xmpp. Don't necessarily gotta host your own

[–] unitedwithme@lemmy.today 1 points 28 minutes ago

Anyone ever use FluffyChat? That seems based on Matrix and cute like it'd be kid friendly. I'll look more into matrix in general! TY

[–] schwim@piefed.zip 2 points 1 hour ago

I would love to see the success rate of getting the parents of the child's friend to set up a matrix client for their child's one friend that doesn't use anything they do.

Help your child embrace not needing to be constantly in communication with her friends, to (gasp) use the phone .... or accept and monitor the evil empires' offerings but no matter what you do, don't for one second think you'll get a single family to set up a matrix client for "that one kid".

[–] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 3 points 1 hour ago (2 children)

How would you compare setting up your own Matrix server vs an XMPP server?

I was going to recommend XMPP to OP, and I don't have any experience with setting up Matrix.

[–] Colloidal@programming.dev 2 points 1 hour ago

AFAIK, xmpp is easier to maintain and requires less resources.

[–] CMDR_Horn@lemmy.world 1 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

I have no skin in either game, so I couldn't give you an honest answer here. I only suggested matrix because I believe it would fit the scenario

[–] Onomatopoeia@lemmy.cafe 1 points 38 minutes ago

Bummer.

Oh well

[–] ch00f@lemmy.world 6 points 2 hours ago

Second this. My friend group has been using my Matrix server for years.