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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this is wrong?

41 replies

pucca · 24/03/2010 11:14

I am seeing more and more of junior school age children on facebook (friends children), i don't agree with it to be honest, what do you all think?

OP posts:
memoo · 24/03/2010 11:16

Depends what they use it for. DD age 11 has an account, she uses it to keep in touch with her aunt who lives in Australia and her Grandma who lives a few hours away too.

She is supervised when using it and is not allowed to accept anyone as a friend without asking first.

I also have her password and go into her account every day to check what she has been up to.

Why do you think its wrong?

SpicedGerkin · 24/03/2010 11:17

FB rules state that you have to be over 13, so no i don't agree with it either.

GypsyMoth · 24/03/2010 11:20

facebook rules maybe say 13....but then you get the vile groups that are doing the rounds too....so i dont take facebook seriously,or their 'rules'

my 3 eldest have accounts....and are fine!

Original poster
pucca · 24/03/2010 11:20

Thats fair enough memoo

I don't know really, it just feels wrong to me, my nephew got into some grief as behind a computer screen it is easy to argue and "mouth off" with people it is when they come face to face the problems start.

It just makes me feel uncomfortable. There are some quizzes and things that are not acceptable for that age, and i think for a child to be using it unsupervised it is just asking for trouble.

OP posts:
SpicedGerkin · 24/03/2010 11:21

Well exactly there are vile groups that do the rounds, why would you want your children exposed to that?

Original poster
pucca · 24/03/2010 11:21

I never knew that spicedgerkin and threeblondeboys....there is a friend of mine who allows her son to use it unsupervised, for example he had done a quiz about sex he is 7!!

OP posts:
GypsyMoth · 24/03/2010 11:23

on here...plenty of threads on the groups,and links too from other mumsnetters.

havent come across them on my page,or dc's,but there have been calls for facebook to get rid and they havent!!

GypsyMoth · 24/03/2010 11:24

age 7? my 7 year old has no interest,he watches his sister on her happy aquarium and thats it!!

memoo · 24/03/2010 11:24

I understand your concearns pucca, I guess I must have them too as my DC are always supervised when on the computer wether it be facebook or anything else and for that reason I won't ever let them have a PC in their bedrooms.

Social networking sites are extremely popular and I kind of think that we need to teach our children how to use them safely rather than restrict it completely.

SpicedGerkin · 24/03/2010 11:25

So you're slating FB for trying to make sure that children under a certian age can't see said groups, because they do nothing about them?

That makes no sense.

memoo · 24/03/2010 11:25

"there is a friend of mine who allows her son to use it unsupervised, for example he had done a quiz about sex he is 7!!"

Now that is definately wrong!

memoo · 24/03/2010 11:27

Spiced, is that aimed at me? I'm not slating facebook?

SpicedGerkin · 24/03/2010 11:27

So is cliff diving memoo, and chicken, it doesn't mean i'd allow my DCs to do either, teaching your children to lie on the computer isn't a good thing imo, and you do have to lie otherwise they wont allow the account.

SpicedGerkin · 24/03/2010 11:28

No sorry memoo, that was aimed at 3blonds comment.

'so i dont take facebook seriously,or their 'rules''

MayorNaze · 24/03/2010 11:28

ds is nearly 11 and has no interest whatsoever in facebook etc, the best we do here is clubpenguin and tbh i don't really think he understands that.

i am in the minority in that i personally do not "do" facebook and, if and when ds shows an interest then he can do it, but on the same terms that memoo has laid down.

dd1 is 7 and also shows no interest, if she wanted to have a facebook account then i would be saying no in no uncertain terms.

mind you, i'm not sure computers really register with her, she much prefers drawing

memoo · 24/03/2010 11:29

Spiced, I take your point about the lying, I really do.

GypsyMoth · 24/03/2010 11:30

well isnt it wrong that any age group is exposed to groups about jamie bulger,race hate,disability etc etc???

not just children....but anyone

facebook should be able to get them removed,and they should question those who are too young......its obvious they are so young when they have school and photos on profiles

GypsyMoth · 24/03/2010 11:32

well my girls are 13 and 15 so they are old enough

but no,i dont take facebook seriously,i take from it what i want,i'm not on it obsessively like alot are

SpicedGerkin · 24/03/2010 11:33

You can't hold FB responsible for parents allowing their under age children onto their site.

We are the ones responsible for them, passing that responsibility to a faceless corp, is asking for trouble!

ShadeofViolet · 24/03/2010 11:33

My DS has a page and he has just turned 9 - he likes to play farmville and keep in touch with a friend who used to go to his school but who moved to Scotland/ However I know his password and I check it every day, plus all his invites, notifications etc go to my email.

sungirltan · 24/03/2010 11:39

yadnbu. fb is not age appropriate for younger children in either content or its facility to make friends with strangers.

if you insist on letting kids use it then at least have a ggod read of this

memoo · 24/03/2010 11:43

Sungirl, you seem to be assuming that those of us who allow our children to use it aren't already taking steps to protect them from danger,

SpicedGerkin · 24/03/2010 11:46

That would be because many of the parents don't memoo i would say people who do closely supervise their underage dcs on fb are in the minority.

notsoteenagemum · 24/03/2010 11:52

I'm glad it's over 13, I can say that to dd 9 who keeps pestering for a page.
She's a stickler for rules.

I only got it to keep in touch with dsis, and friends who have moved away.

MathsMadMummy · 24/03/2010 11:57

yadnbu

there is no need for kids that young to be on it. if they want to keep in touch with their mates how about a phone?!