Safe use of social network and instant messaging sites

[Hathor]

Are your dc allowed to use these to chat to their friends?What age did they start using them and how do you monitor what they are doing on there?
Do they access them from mobiles/school computers/other gadgets, or just at home?
Seems impossible to keep up with all the technology and how to use it safely.
Have only just found out that email on google mail accounts link to open chat on Buzz, which is set to be completely public in the first instance.
Anyone got good advice about this kind of thing?

I think that for Facebook certainly, they don't allow anyone under the age of 13 to have an account. My neice and nephew had accounts from about 13 or 14 and they are allowed to go on them freely as they have their own laptops. I know that my nephew who is 14, and all his friends access Facebook from their phones at school.

How old is your DC - is he/she quite IT literate?

If not, then I doubt they would be able to get through the process of setting up an email account and then a Facebook account, faking their date of birth etc.

My DD (fortunately) shows no interest in using FB before she's 13. She used to like Club Penguin, which was age-appropriate. Now she's at secondary she communicates with her friends via the school email and texting - that seems to suffice.

So, my advice is just say no to underage FB or uncontrolled email.

ds1 was allowed a FB account when he turned 13 (later than ALL of his friends).
I frequently go on there to check what is being said, but he's generally very sensible with it.

ds2 is not yet allowed a FB or email account, as he's only 11. (Most of his class were on in yr5. I don't care, he's not allowed). He was part of a closed, moderated, restricted access community (Super Clubs/Gold Star Cafe), but I don't think he goes on there any more now.

I don't understand how children of under 13 can get on there?

Are they faking their ages and their parents don't know, or are their parents doing it for them?

Both, MrsRR.

One of DDs classmates set up an FB account when she was in yr6. Her mother went ballistic apparently. Others had accounts set up for them, with the parent knowing the password and checking up on them.

In all cases it involves lying. One thing that bothered me is that if an 11 year old sets up FB with a fake 13 birthday, then when she is 14 it will say she's 16 .... surely asking for trouble?

MrsRR loads of Y6 dc are on FB. It must be easy to get on.
Google Buzz is chat open to all who have a google mail account. Again loads of Y6 on there, and no privacy settings apparent. Anyone can read their conversations.
Seems that the dc are either on it with parental knowledge or because parents don't have a clue.
Seems they are so vulnerable to strangers and/or bullying. I am reluctant to let dc on them, but wanted to get an idea about what people are doing to protect their dc.
Even the school computers seem to allow dc onto chat - is that normal?

My DDs school VLE only allows the kids to communicate with each other - no outsiders. That seems fine IME - its quite useful for sorting out homework.

What's a VLE Grimma? Is this in primary? Sounds useful for the school and afterschool homework/chat. Can they access it from home?

Virtual Learning Environment - secondary, accessible from home