Social networking - are children/ teens safe enough?

I read about someone locally whose child was approached on facebook by someone who was grooming and trying to meet young children. I think you have to be very careful about taking care of your kids whilst they are on the internet. There are age limits on facebook, but people ignore them - I think that's foolish. I agree that bullying takes place everywhere, but I would be more wary of predatory adults. I would rather be unpopular with my child than allow them to freely access social sites. Personally I don't like facebook especially since they 'unhid' everyone's private information a month or so ago... I will allow my child to use the internet with web protection software and to have an email address, but would not be happy about her using facebook, myspace or even MSN messenger. I will no doubt have to compromise at some point, but I am certainly not starting from a position of 'sure - anything goes' I think it is not worth the risk - In the story I mentioned, the mother had allowed the girl to have a facebook account even though she was under 13. Fortunately the child showed her mother the messages she was getting from what she supposed was a 14 year-old boy, turns out he's a 62 year old predator trying to arrange to meet her. The mother took over the account and arranged a 'meeting' and took photo's from a distance (he thought nobody had turned up). They did the same thing once more, took more photo's and had the guy arrested. How foolish the woman would have looked if the child had been molested by this man, and how guilty would she have felt for allowing the child to have this facebook account - How can something like that EVER be worth the risk?

i personally think that social networking site is necessary for everyone, including children. this is important because these days information technology affects our lives more than we think, especially through internet. for cyberbulling, i think is the risk that we have to take. even in the real life we always have risk to face. so my point is that we only have just always take a look at the children. the conclusion is that i agree children join social networking site.

When it comes to children and teens, there is always room for worry over the internet. Social networking sites are perfect places for alarm. Parents should always be aware of where their children log on to. This will help in their safety.

I do not have any children nor do I have any. However, I am well aware of the dangers of the cyber world. When the internet was first introduced, and starting to become popular, my school made sure to drill into our heads the dangers of giving out personal information online. Social networking sites barely existed back then. Online chat rooms were the must-avoids of the time. If I had a child, before allowing them near my computer, I would make sure they were properally edcuated in the "dark sides" of the internet. I wouldn't be afraid of what my child would expose themselves too eaither, because I would trust them to learn how to use good judgment, and make sure they understand NEVER give personal information to someone they don't know or feel confertable with. There is no real way to know for sure, what kids may or may not do, thus parental controls and safegarding laws. But, worrying and wondering will only make you sick. Nothing is worth that.

Im a teen and i think social networking is pretty safe, so long as you keep it as social networking and don't decide to meet up with people you don't really know. I don't know anyone who has been the victim of cyber bullying but i can imagine it wouldn't be very nice

I guess it's depends on how you often as a parents permit the kids in using their social network. LIMIT their time in using it because being a parent it's our responsibility to guard their action. Truly social networking isn't safe anymore to these days because of some malicious users intending to brainwashed the child's mind slowly. Children now often stay longer in their room alone playing e-games rather than enjoy playing outside with their playing mates.

I dont think that these social networking sites are safe enough, as the teens are so innocent that they can come in anyone's talk, can meet people who are not safe for them as we dont know who is the person opposite us. Its like a blind friendship which have a great chance of future disturbances in personal lives of people.

No of course they aren't safe enough. The internet can be dangerous like many things in life, in some cases it's like letting a bully or preditor right into your living room. These risks arent going away, but precautions can be strengthened against it. Tell your kids the same things about online strangers as you do about outside strangers.