Children and facebook
By samd87
@samd87 (327)
July 27, 2012 1:52pm CST
I watched something on television last night about technology in the modern family and was shocked to hear that children as young as 6 are been given permission from their parents to use facebook! Not only were they allowed a facebook account of their own but their parents weren't even monitoring what they were looking at on the Internet.
6 responses
@marguicha (223863)
• Chile
28 Jul 12
I was a nutcase and I´m still one now that I have become a grandmother. I raised two insane daughters: one is a psychologist and the other a judge. The poor girls have good, steady and well paid jobs, own their houses and have been able to raise their children about the same way. Aren´t we crazy
@marguicha (223863)
• Chile
27 Jul 12
It´s a shame! FB itself is a very dangerous site as you risk not having much intimacy, unless you have 5 or 6 friends there. Even then it´s better to call said friends by phone or send them an email telling them something worthwhile instead of those "I like it", "I don´t like it" dumb responses. I have told my grandchildren (before they were 6) that for me it is not enough to say I like it, or I don´t like it. I want to know the reason why. That is thinking.
Parents who let their children use this technology without supervision probably need to be taught a lot of things about being a person and being a parent. As Descartes said: "I think, therefore I am (Cogito, ergo sum)".
@marguicha (223863)
• Chile
27 Jul 12
Technology is wonderful as long as parents guide their kids. I have heard of awful things happening to children with webcams and the like. If only a wise grownup had been around, many terrible things would not have happened.
@timsmom3 (21)
• United States
28 Jul 12
A site is only bad when the child has free run to use it and no supervision. My boys are 7 and 10, and they use facebook to keep in touch with family that is far away and to play games. We use the games as educational opportunities. Several games on Facebook help them learn about various animals and how to take care of them, where they live, etc. They learn to budget their money when deciding what animals to purchase. They learn to help their friends. They are never allowed on without their dad or myself right there. They don't have access to my username or password to ensure they don't get on it without permission. When you carefully select the settings on Facebook, it is as private as any other site. Be careful about what personal information is shared, and there's no problem. Sending kids out into the world is more terrifying than a site because you can't edit what they tell other people, they are exposed to liars and frauds and people that will try to take advantage of them. I'm teaching my kids how to handle these things in every day life, which includes using the Internet responsibly. As a school bus driver, I have seen the result of parents who let the kids run rampant online as well as in real life, and it is frightening. I don't agree with elementary and middle schoolers having phones because they can search sites that parents wouldn't let them if they were at home. Many parents don't see a problem with that. Everyone has their own idea of what is and isn't acceptable for their child. It's called parental rights.
@riyauro (6421)
• India
27 Jul 12
yes it is so shameful that this is happening. I don't like facebook. I don't go there much. Only because I am far from home and It is expensive to call home, plus many cousins are in other parts of the world that is why I have contact with them on facebook. Otherwise I don't go there much.
@Raine38 (12389)
• United States
27 Jul 12
Makes you wonder what are these parents thinking. Sometimes they themselves even set up their own kids' Facebook account, some are as young as an unborn one.
The minimum allowable age for Facebook is there for a reason. Sadly instead of teaching their kids the potential hazards of Facebook, even the Internet in general, they just give them so much leeway. Minors and Internet do no exactly mix right and as adults, we must be the first ones to step in and protect them from the harsh world of Internet.
I have a 15 and 13 year old bro and sis and even if they have Facebook, we didn't let them have an Internet connection in their rooms; they're also not allowed to bring the laptops in their rooms. They want to do Facebook or Internet, they do it in the living room or dining room in our presence. We also constantly check their activities but not to the point of encroaching their "privacy". Of course they know that once they ruined our trust, they will have it even harder.
@emay2000 (7)
• United States
27 Jul 12
I think that is ridiculous, but know it to be true. My daughter is 8 and at least one of her friends has a facebook account and she's the same age. Personally, I enjoy facebook and use it to keep in touch with friends, but I don't even like my kids to look at it when I'm on there because you never know whose post may have a curse word or something inappropriate in it. I would NEVER allow my kids to have an account until they're the required age and even then I would have to know their passwords and have all access.
@kissykissy (46)
• United States
28 Jul 12
Wow i cant believe there actually allowing kids, as young as 6 to use facebook, for what reason at all do they need one i believe that parents are allowing kids to use way to much technology im mean its good as far as the learning programs on the computer but i dont believe that facebook is going to help them with their school work or anything else. And the internet is really not safe for kids that young they could get into anything.
