To think that 7 year olds should not be socially networking online?

[JamesTheCat]

My friend's DD is 7 and I have a DS the same age. I logged onto Facebook this afternoon to find a friend request from friend's DD.

I had always thought that the minimum age to have a Facebook account was 13 for a reason? It would appear that she has had the account for a while and makes regular child-like status updates.

I'm now in an awkward position as I am not keen to suppport this by accepting her friend request, but at the same time, I don't want her to think I have rebuked her. Also, my friend and her DH have given their consent to the account being set up and I don't want them to think that I am undermining the decision they have made.

Maybe I am just a bit put out that she has more friends than me

But in all seriousness, AIBU to think that 7 is too young to be online this way?

I totally agree with you and think you should just ignore it. Even my 14 year old doesn't use FB.

It is and I would simply ignore the request.

If she asks, tell her that you don't want to have children as friends as you are an adult and have adult friends.

You are not being unreasonable. I would call or e-mail her mum and just be light about it but say "please explain to xxx that I'm not being rude not accepting her as a friend but sometimes my posts might be a bit risque and I don't want to have to censor myself". Add in a few exclamation marks so that you don't come across as judgey.

I wouldn't let my children be on Facebook at that age but we all know not to comment on other parent's choices.

Thank you, yes that is my concern as she already has several other friends of her parents as friends, some of whom I know are not always the most careful with their choice of language / topics of conversation, which is fine in an adult environment.

DS occasionally asks to play some of the games on Facebook (Uno) but he does this on my log in and with me breathing down his neck or playing against him. I am worried that when word gets out that she has her own account, my DS will be wanting one!! There are a couple of other children on there who are not much older than her also with their own accounts. I guess the parents are lying about their ages to allow the accounts to be set up, which (IMO) does not set a great example either. (I'll get off my soap box now!)

YANBU, I am weary of having some family on my FB as I want to be free to write what I like on there.

Why would you want to have a friends child on your friends list anyway? Isn't this about 'collecting' as many people as you know to boost the amount of 'friends' that you have? I have had requests from people I went to school with but I have no idea who they actually are, whats the point.

YADefNBU