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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask you lovely MNers to settle a debate about FaceBook between me and my DS (10).

26 replies

SmilesLikeNoOther · 15/12/2008 08:21

He wants an FB account and I think he is too young, what do you guys all think?
(He says 'pleeeeeaaaassssseeeee!!!!!!')

OP posts:
goldFAQinsenceandmyrrh · 15/12/2008 08:22

too young.

IdrisTheDragon · 15/12/2008 08:22

I think you have to be 13

mysterymoniker · 15/12/2008 08:22

wayyyyyyy too young

mysterymoniker · 15/12/2008 08:23

there is bebo for the likes of him!

TipsyFairydifferentID · 15/12/2008 08:23

far too young.

BouncingTinsel · 15/12/2008 08:24

Too young

Original poster
SmilesLikeNoOther · 15/12/2008 08:25

(smirk!)

OP posts:
Tortington · 15/12/2008 08:25

would rather fb than bebo any day of the week, i don't think its too young at all!

lottiejenkins · 15/12/2008 08:26

My ds wasnt allowed one and he's 12........even though his friends of the same age have changed their dob's to get on there. You have to be 13 for an account. Seeing some of the things that people have put on there i'm glad i said no now!!

Original poster
SmilesLikeNoOther · 15/12/2008 08:27

My DS loves you Custardo!!!

OP posts:
Tortington · 15/12/2008 08:27

condition that you have the password and can monitor friends and what goes on - its not a secret society - a good tip is to be one of your childs friends - that way you get live feed and updates as to what they are on, what they are joining, who they are now friends with etc - its v. informative!

Original poster
SmilesLikeNoOther · 15/12/2008 08:29

custardos cool

OP posts:
Tortington · 15/12/2008 08:32

oh lord! cool is so not cool - get to school and shut yer gob

LiffeyCanSpellGeansaiNollaig · 15/12/2008 08:34

Too young according to their own FB rules. BUT......... i would allow him to have one so long as YOU know the password and can log into it for him, check for dodgy remarks/bullying/innuendo who knows what.

I've had two requests to be a friend from people i've NEVER even heard of, so you would not be unreasonable to allow it but MONITOR it.

seeker · 15/12/2008 08:38

You have to be 13.

He would have to lie about his age to get one.

I let my dd have one when she was 12 - still too young in my opinion, but she was genuinely the only one in her circle of friends without one (and I checked!)

Original poster
SmilesLikeNoOther · 15/12/2008 08:47

Rofl Custardo, You now have a fan!

OP posts:
TLESinChristmasStockings · 15/12/2008 08:58

My ds1 is 10 and he has a FB account BUT I manage it. He has family and family friends friends on there.

Has damamged him yet

ThePregnantMerryYuleWitch · 15/12/2008 09:12

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
SmilesLikeNoOther · 15/12/2008 15:41

bump

OP posts:
seeker · 15/12/2008 16:16

Actually, thinking about this - he's 10. If you don't want him to have a Facebook account, he doesn't get one!

CarminaBanana · 15/12/2008 16:19

I agree with you.
10 is too young, imo.
I can't let my DCs on there until they're old enough to cope with seeing regular photo updates showing their 40 year old aunt off her face, and simulating blow jobs on a beer bottle.
So about sixty years.

shitehawk · 15/12/2008 16:23

Way too young. Some of the adverts on there make me raise my eyebrows, let alone a ten year old child.

You're the boss; you think he's too young then he's too young.

jingleMAMADIVAsbells · 15/12/2008 16:24

I would allow Bebo but not FB.

I hate FB though have to say it's an Identity fraudsters dream.

chaufleur · 15/12/2008 16:25

10 is too young

I'm pretty liberal about most things but I can't stand social networking websites.

Kids just don't need that cr*p at that age. It is IMO poisonous and will lead to no good. I am the only one out of my friends not to have an account cos I just don't see the point of personal exposure like that, the world is full of oddballs and idiots posing as perfectly normal peeps on the outside but since I met a creep in disguise (and he was vv convincing) I have seen the light. Our identities and privacy are so fragile we don't know it until a random oddball comes along.

If they're ya friends, they'll know you, social website or no social website. We all got along fine before them!

leoleomakingalist · 15/12/2008 16:28

Do you have a facebook account? - You would need to be able to use it fully yourself to be able to monitor it fully. I would investigate all the security options as you can stop people from searching you and what they can see on your page etc.
My sil allows her 12 and 13 yo to use it but has her own account and she has all their passwords etc. She also closes their accounts as punishment.
The thing I would worry about is that they could delete messages before you even saw them and there is a chat facility so you would never know what was said on that.
I think too young but are you fighting a losing battle?
Also has all his friends got an account because it would be difficult for him if everyone (not just a few) has a fb account.. Can you imagine he wouldn't be able to join in with lots of conversations and things..