Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Site stuff

Join our Innovation Panel to try new features early and help make Mumsnet better.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

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:

KenNEddieKennedy · 23/05/2012 16:07

Some people here are thinking in extremes; Handled properly, monitored properly, Facebook is Okay you know. It's not going anywhere, believe me. Better to be fully informed, fully up to speed with it all now than have a blanket ban which will only cause problems further down the line.

KenNEddieKennedy · 23/05/2012 16:09

Oh, and on the 'Strict Mum' comment:....I wrote the book!

landrover · 23/05/2012 20:07

I still dont understand though that parents are clicking on the "i am over 13" button in front of their kids, presumably showing them that it is ok to lie?

KenNEddieKennedy · 23/05/2012 20:52

I'm not sure a big thing is made of that button, landrover. It's not in neon pink, flashing 'Click here to teach your children to tell whoppers' .....

Most children wouldn't even realise, or care.

doinmummy · 23/05/2012 21:27

The whole of the internet is a dangerous place for children if not properly supervised.

Our local Police gave an interesting but worrying talk on internet safety.

Moshie Monsters is especially worrying.

If a mobile phone photo is posted on the net, then the GPS co ordinates can be obtained, typed into Google Maps and the exact location of the photo will appear. A fav trick of paedophiles.

I dislike FB but the whole of the internet is a worry IMO.

Gymbob · 23/05/2012 22:18

I'm right with you on that landrover. If no under 13's is the rule, then that's the rule, it doesn't matter what the button to click is dressed up like. We as parents are surely responsible for teaching our children to live by the rules. It must be okay to do it if everyone else is - that seems to be the mentality.

rockinhippy · 23/05/2012 22:35

If parents are setting it up for the DCs then its hardly teaching DCs to lie - besides - IME - IE not realising & putting in the wrong date - meant I had to swap e-mails with FB staff, explaining I was setting it up & monitoring it for my DD in order to get DDs FB okayed - so it's hardly teaching my DD to lie

FTR - our Cat has a FB page too - she's under 13

kaumana · 23/05/2012 22:55

Gymbob- I'm with you and landrover on this.
I would add that the those that say everyone is on it, get used to it, it's not going away, if properly monitored it's fine, they need to learn from a young age so they will be protected, I trust my child yada yada yada are the ones who need to be educated about the consequences of having your life looked at thtougj a looking glass by your peers without the emotional maturity to deal with it.

Those who have posted their instances of where FB has had a negative impact on their children are far nearer the mark.

FB is a listed company which only answers to its shareholders, why anyone would lie about their childs age in order to give away details of their children for free to a company to do with as they please is beyond me..... but I would bet most of the parents used their own correct dob when they registered themselves put in their school, place of work etc < duh emoticon>

kaumana · 23/05/2012 23:53

In other words:

You and your children are the product/ commodity that FB sells to others of which you have NO control over.

Bunbaker · 24/05/2012 06:24

Spot on kaumana

SoupDragon · 24/05/2012 07:20

"I would add that the those that say everyone is on it, get used to it, it's not going away, if properly monitored it's fine, they need to learn from a young age so they will be protected, I trust my child yada yada yada are the ones who need to be educated about the consequences of having your life looked at thtougj a looking glass by your peers without the emotional maturity to deal with it."

I'm not so please try not to make sweeping generalisations.

"but I would bet most of the parents used their own correct dob when they registered themselves put in their school, place of work etc < duh emoticon>"

So? Plenty of places have my DOB etc. Mind you, I post nothing of any great volume or note on my FB account. I assume you don't use loyalty cards or credit cards etc.

You might enjoy the idea behind the book "Brand Loyalty"

SoupDragon · 24/05/2012 07:22

You and your children are the product/ commodity that FB sells to others of which you have NO control over.

But you do have control by deciding what information to share.

Himalaya · 24/05/2012 07:34

The thing is everything is becoming more like an open social network - e.g. Skype, gmail etc.. You have a profile and can be contacted by people you don't know of you have the preferences set up that way.

Keeping kids off FB until they are 13 because it's the rules doesn't keep them out of danger. Better to teach them to use it openly and safely and not to get too addicted.

My under 13s have FB - I mainly cringe at the spelling and inanity.

Gymbob · 24/05/2012 07:44

...but you're all still breaking the no under 13's rule are you not, and your kids will know you are, or are you just breaking the rules responsibly?.....just playing devils advocate here....I love a good debate

SoupDragon · 24/05/2012 07:58

Yes, I am breaking the age limit. It isn't a law from my POV. My children know that it was my decision and that, as an adult, I can decide whether a rule is absolute or has a little flexibility - so in this case it means me monitoring their use.

The same would apply to alcohol - they absolutely can not buy it but I wouldn't have a problem with letting them try it in the safe environment of our own home.

melika · 24/05/2012 09:31

I know 8 yr olds with accounts. It won't make any difference.

chobbler · 24/05/2012 14:12

I let my 9 year old daughter use my fb account 'chat' to talk to her aunts, uncles and cousins around the world. it is easier than email and when Daddy is overseas fbchat or skype are far more reliable than a phone line. But I set it up, it is on my account so i can see it and she is only talking to relatives. She knows she cannot have an account and seems to be happy with using mine but secondary school isn't too far away and I am sure the nagging will start then.

Jux · 12/06/2012 20:00

Anyone thinking HabboYou Hotel might be a better bet than FB for their kids, check out Channel 4 News today 7pm.

It is about as unsafe a place as you can imagine. See the today's thread in _Chat, Do your kids us Habbo Hotel? Here

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 12/06/2012 21:06

The ONLY reason Facebook's cutoff is a rather arbitrary 13 is because that is the age at which teens start secondary school in the US (Grade 9). The age was imported over here without amendment for the UK mRket, as so many things are. So on that basis, the UK Facebook age should be 11.

Not saying that they should or shouldn't change the age, I'm just sayin' like...

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6 7