Ok so tell me everything you know about MSN!!!

[Polgara2]

Am umming and ahhing over whether to let dd1 (10) have an msn account. She hasn't asked me recently but that's only because I had previously said she wouldn't be having one. However, now her best friend has gone and got one and I think she will feel a bit left out soon. So - is it the devil pit of cyber bullying and internet not-safety that I am imagining? Or am I over-reacting somewhat .

MSN, Is not a problem, the only people you speak to are those you know, they must have your address, then 'add you' as a contact then you have a choice whether to accept or block.

She can only really get into trouble with MSN if she has random strangers as contacts, which to do so she will need to use chatrooms etc, so MSN alone, is not a problem.

I personally would say I wanted her to make sure that her address and password were stored on the PC, that way if you really neded to you could go into it, you can also make sure that she has records of her conversatins saved, I would however never read any of these unless I was worried she was in danger, if she knows she doesn't have to worry you'll read her 'private' convos (silly crushes she may talk about) then she'll be fine with allowing you access, if she thinks you're going to 'spy' on her as suhc it could easily become something she feels she needs to hide and then you'd have no back-up plan incase of danger.

Oh BTW, my 7yo has MSN, to speak to her cousins/nan, she never uses it but she has it, that's how safe I believe it is.

When DD1 first started using MSN I told her she had to ask me before she added ANY additional contacts to it. She is now 14, so I'm a bit more laid back now, but I do still read it over her shoulder to keep her on her toes

with msn you choose to add people and choose to accept people that have added you.

wouldn't have an issue letting my ds have it when he is old enough.

Right so the general consensus is it is ok then? And there is absolutely no way anyone can talk to her if she does 'accept' them? Hmm i don't suppose anyone uses their actual name on the account do they (well not her peers I don't suppose)?

Use whatever address you want, I have friends whose msns are strawberrylova and mushroompeople! Mine is fan-fkn-tastic

For anyone to add her they must know her address, they then have to type it into their msn, and hit add contact, she'll get a message saying so-and-so wants to add you to their contact list and then will/wont accept.

When you have a request it will say the name of the person then their address for example "Sarah[[email protected]] wants to add you to their contact list" so you'll have an idea who they are but even if you add someone then decide you dont want to talk to them you can 'block' them, which means they cant type to you or see if you're online.

Think of her msn address like a phone number(but more unique), people aren't going to guess it and ring up to talk to you for nothing are they?? The same goes with an MSN address.

Right thank you VS - am nearly there. I asked these questions just in time because she came in from school and asked if she could have an account!

Don't suppose there's any sort of language filter/blocker is there? (as in bad language I mean!)

Not that I know of, but tbh if she's reading bad language from her peers online, I'd imagine she hears it at school

I know - I'm just an over protective mummy I guess - and I don't really want to admit my little girl.. isn't!