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MNHQ

Facebook to lift its ban on users under 13: your thoughts?

169 replies

HelenMumsnet · 21/05/2012 10:42

Hello.

We hear through the DM grapevine that Facebook is getting set to lift its ban on under-13s opening accounts and joining up.

We're wondering what you all think about this.

Do you think under-13s should be able to have Facebook accounts? If so, would you be relaxed about your pre-teen child having one? If not, what exactly concerns you about children being on Facebook before the age of 13?

OP posts:
Olympia2012 · 21/05/2012 10:44

There will be more cyber bullying than ever. And schools will be expected to step in and clear up the inevitable fallout between pupils.

Bad move.

supernannyisace · 21/05/2012 10:45

I don't like to see younger children on facebook. There are a few who are I know - family members - 11/12 years old. Their parents know that they are on - which suprises me.

There is a lot of stuff on facebook that I wouldn't want a child of that age to see. Most of it is in good humour - but also a fair bit of filth and strong opinions.

DS has no interest in it he is 14. I wouldn't be his 'friend' if he was on fb. that is just wrong!

5inthebed · 21/05/2012 10:47

I hate children and pets having FB accounts. Especially when their dumb parents do not put the strongest security on them.

I think at under 13 a child can be easily lead my people online they think are children/friends when that is not the case. Makes me shudder thinking about the possibilities of grooming from something I use myself on a daily basis.

If, and it is a huge if, I allowed my DC to have a FB under the age of 16 I would make sure I had access to it at all times and I definitely would look at it to make sure there was nothing bad going on behind the scenes.

Babylon1 · 21/05/2012 10:47

Terrible move Sad

HauntedLittleLunatic · 21/05/2012 10:48

On the one hand they are right...hundreds of under13s are using it anyway...but at least they are not advertising the fact they are under 13 because ithey give false DOB.

On the other I thought this was underpinned by laws - which I see from article are only applicable in the US. Should we not have something similar here?

My 11yo's are surviving perfectly well without a fb account...I don't see why a child of that age should effectively be encouraged (via peer pressure) to have one.

Olympia2012 · 21/05/2012 10:50

Smartphone pressure will be on too!!

startail · 21/05/2012 10:58

Personally I'd much rather they left it as it is.
Yes it's widely abused, but at least knowing they are too young might remind it's younger uses to be careful.

Also I don't use FB and my 14 yo DD has no wish to. Mobile and FaceTime are her preferred method of chattering.

This means letting DD2 loose in a system I really don't understand. Given she and her Y6 peer group think they know it all, I'd much rather not.

Hebiegebies · 21/05/2012 10:59

Think 13 is young enough. I know kids give false birthdates to get on, but it wouldn't solve that

Leave well alone please Facebook

klaxon · 21/05/2012 10:59

Hang on a minute. It's illegal to advertise junk food to children isn't it - also abortion services, and a few other things - you can't offer credit cards to under 13s. So are they also planning on suppressing the advertisements and tailored 'content' functions? Have they even thought about this.

It's a very silly idea. There are sites for kids. Facebook isn't one of them.

And let's not get into what happens when they mistype and get facebok instead (don't serious do this - it's porn).

YouBrokeMySmoulder · 21/05/2012 11:02

Ugh. Just ugh.

Wommer · 21/05/2012 11:02

Maybe the fact that it will now be legal will remove any illicit thrill of an under 13 year old being on there, and in a way make it less attractive.
To be honest I had no idea there was a rule about age as I know so many young kids who are on there with the full knowledge of their parents.
Aside from asking you what year you are born what safeguards are there currently to stop it? In reality that's no preventative measure at all.

simbo · 21/05/2012 11:12

I tend towards the argument of making it less "precious". The main desire for youngsters is to do something illicit. Both of mine made sneaky accounts when they were underage. I was annoyed about it, but decided to see what would happen. The shine wore off very quickly and neither of them even uses it now. My ds only wanted to play the games anyway.

CurrySpice · 21/05/2012 11:15

My dd is 12 and most of her friends have had accounts for years. They are wasting their breath

AdventuresWithVoles · 21/05/2012 11:20

I would be okay about it from secondary-age with some provisos. Not thrilled, just ok. There are other online social networks they can access anyway (e.g., Moshi Monsters, DBprimary).

I currently ban it for under 13 previously because it's one of the FB T&C and to me it just feels so rude to blatantly lie in order to tick the T&C box.

It will mean having to teach DC at a younger age about online dangers, sadly. Earlier erosion of innocence. :(

ripsishere · 21/05/2012 11:21

My DD opened one last night. She is under strict instructions not to accept friend requests from anyone she doesn't know.
Already she's been reunited with friends from the five different countries she's lived in. IMO, it isn't all bad as long as they have strict boundaries
She rejected a couple of boys at school with a 'hah that'll show you' sort of movement.

SoupDragon · 21/05/2012 11:26

My eldest two had them before they turned 13. I monitored them closely at the start and less so as it became apparent they weren't really doing anything at all. They were both told not to accept friends that they didn't know, were told that people on the internet may not be who they claim to be and that if they ever saw anything they were worried/shocked/whatever about to come and talk to me - there would be no recriminations.

There has never been anything untoward on their walls bar some truly appalling English which makes me want to write to their parents/head teacher.

I think the risks of cyber bullying are far greater for those over 13 than for younger children.

jubilucket · 21/05/2012 11:27

We let dds have FB when they turned 13, but are resisting smartphones, as at present they can only access it in the house, and computers (and everything else that goes bleep) are banned from bedrooms here. I don't think they are media savvy enough until 12-13-ish.

SoupDragon · 21/05/2012 11:27

"It will mean having to teach DC at a younger age about online dangers, sadly. Earlier erosion of innocence."

No it won't. You should have that conversation as soon as possible. Mine had it when they joined Club Penguin.

Maryz · 21/05/2012 11:34

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Maryz · 21/05/2012 11:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

spammertime · 21/05/2012 11:36

As people say, at the moment some children lie and say they are 13 when they are eg 10. This means that Facebook thinks they are 3 years older, which in turn means that it thinks they will be 18 when infact they are 15 - and will see all relevant adverts accordingly.

To be honest I think they might as well adjust the age limit - a lot of children or their parents put a false dob in anyway, its not as if there are any checks. Parents can always impose their own restrictions, and I would have no intention to let my children go online without me keeping an eye on what they're doing until they're at least 13 anyway.

solidgoldbrass · 21/05/2012 11:47

I don't think it's a good idea. A lot of the stuff I do on Facebook is not at all suitable for children, but I don't want to make it suitable for children. There are other types of social networking for kids, leave adult stuff for adults.

(And I don't mean I just swap photographs of genitalia and sweary jokes with other people or anything... I have a lot of links to assorted political odds and ends, and stuff that it;s important to discuss but which is not suitable for kids - would you want to have to explain the full impact of the I Believe Her campaign to your 9-year-old?)

Bucharest · 21/05/2012 11:53

It was a useless and in-name-only ban anyway.

I teach 240x 11 year olds a week. About 20 of them aren't on FB.

I also accept them as "friends" once they are no longer my students (and then hide their inane drivel immediately and make sure anything I put on FB isn't visible to them.

The ones who make me laugh are the parents who say they monitor their kids' FBs.....yes, of course they do. The account they know about. Come on,I mean, we'd have done the same. Far easier to have an open relationship with your child and let them know a) you trust them not to be a moron and b)should they get hit on by a moron they can always come to you.

Maryz · 21/05/2012 11:57

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Saltire · 21/05/2012 11:57

Our 2 don't yet have facebook,having just finished dealing with the fallout from - would you bleieve - mobile phone bullying, I'm not sure I want them to.
I also know of people who have 8,9 10 year olds on facebook, with their walls open for all and sundry to see.

I don't think it's a good idea, but it seems they cannot police it