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Teenagers

Facebook verses homework..and LIFE!!

5 replies

febel · 04/07/2011 21:44

Hi, just wanted to get a few views on this...daughter is obsessed with facebook, she is 13 and everytime she goes on pc it's on. shes had her account for a few months, homework is taking hours, she's even forgetting to do it, cos is busy on f/book. I know they communicate on it, I hae an account myself, but she is ALWAYS on it, to the detriment of EVERYTHING else...jobs, family, pets, music practice, schoolwork etc. Have explained I want her to ask to go on it, and that if shes done everything then it's fine to go on it but doesn't seem to work. Don't know if I'm being old fashioned? Just had a row with her dad over it cos she went on the pc (which he was using) to show him some photos of her at a party, on fbook, and then started messaging pple so he ofcrse went up the wall and she kicked off (doing THAT more and more too!) ARghhh...met me leave!

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quirrelquarrel · 05/07/2011 08:46

Why don't you just delete it? She's 13 and you're paying for everything computer-wise (presumably). It's not a lifeline or anything, so she can survive without it, and she knows she can.

Or you can always give her a choice of either facebook or, say, lift to school/homework materials/replacement of school uniform (or something else which would make it v. difficult to fulfil expectations). This might give her a reality check, she'll choose the responsible option because she has to, she might not feel like she's so hard done by because she's been given a choice...

She's not the parent, you are, and just because she's a teenager doesn't mean she doesn't have to do what you say. Lots of computer time probably isn't doing much for her mood either.

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mousesma · 05/07/2011 09:05

You are the parent, either delete the account or only allow facebook to be used after homework and all her other tasks are done and set a time limit on it.

If you choose to let her keep the account then you have to be vigilent and watch her everytime she is on the PC to make sure she sticks to your rules.

She will probably spend the next 5 years kicking off about something so I wouldn't let that be the reason for not setting boundaries.

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febel · 05/07/2011 09:23

Yes, think I will block it on main pc..she can only access it then on mine and my pc is password protected so I will have more control. She is driving us up the wall at mo, far more challenging and temper tantrumy than her elder sisters..mind you was from day one so shd be used to it!

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hattymattie · 05/07/2011 15:53

'We hold computer password - so they have to go through me to get on the Facebook although once they're on they can stay on hours if I'm not watching. Also I find - they always have an urgent piece of research to do for school which is done in 5 mins and then they'll be on Facebook. I have threatened to delete accounts several times but haven't the heart.

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hattymattie · 05/07/2011 15:53

'We hold computer password - so they have to go through me to get on the Facebook although once they're on they can stay on hours if I'm not watching. Also I find - they always have an urgent piece of research to do for school which is done in 5 mins and then they'll be on Facebook. I have threatened to delete accounts several times but haven't the heart.

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