Facebook to welcome kids under 13 - Democratic Underground

The Straight Story

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Mon May-23-11 02:41 PM
Original message

Facebook to welcome kids under 13

FACEBOOK has sparked a storm with parents and privacy groups over plans to open the social network to children under 13.

Founder Mark Zuckerberg told an education forum in the US he wants to loosen the age restriction and allow pre-teens to use the site as a study tool.

Mr Zuckerberg said Facebook would take precautions to ensure children were safe, but parent groups say the mogul is "asking for trouble".

"There's obviously lots of opportunities there for kids to be bullied and all sorts of things," Parents and Friends Federation Queensland director Carmel Nash said.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/more-news/facebook-to-welcome-kids-under-13/story-fn7x8me2-1226061429490

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xmas74

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Mon May-23-11 02:45 PM
Response to Original message

1. I admit that my child has a page and she's underage.

Her profile is blocked in most listings and she doesn't have control of her password-I do. I open the page for her, I approve of anyone added to her page, and I read her messages. Her page is only available to family and a few close friends.

I wish she could legally be on there with similar restrictions.

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Commie Pinko Dirtbag

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Mon May-23-11 02:46 PM
Response to Reply #1

3. A setup that allows a parent to "manage" the kid's page would be nice. -nt

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xmas74

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Mon May-23-11 02:50 PM
Response to Reply #3

5. That's what I'd like.

It's not a study tool for us and I can't see it as one. It is a nice way for my child to chat with her cousins, send notes to her aunts, and play games with kids in her youth group.

If it were legal and they'd make it easier to manage the page I'd be very happy.

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laundry_queen

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Mon May-23-11 02:52 PM
Response to Reply #1

6. Same.

3 of my 4 kids have pages. 2 of them are underage. I have their passwords and I monitor their friends and usage. The youngest has to ask me before adding any friends. They enjoy it as a means of keeping in touch with their father (who lives far away) and some of their friends from their hometown (we moved a year ago). I always thought the age restriction was silly if the parents approved.

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jp11

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Mon May-23-11 02:46 PM
Response to Original message

2. Facebook can be used as a study tool?

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/149989/20110523/facebook-zuckerberg-children-age-13-under-age-senate-lower-online-privacy-security-protection.htm

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Deep13

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Mon May-23-11 02:47 PM
Response to Original message

4. What could possibly go wrong? nt

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pnwmom

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Mon May-23-11 02:57 PM
Response to Original message

7. I think it's recognizing reality. And there's more chance they'll be safe

Edited on Mon May-23-11 03:00 PM by pnwmom

if they're not lying about their ages and FB can take whatever precautions they're taking.

My niece has been on there since she was 12, with her parents' permission, so she was fudging about her age, too. It's nice to be able to be connected with her that way -- kids that age are happy to friend even boring older relatives. And her pictures and posts cannot be viewed by anyone except actual friends.

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LuckyTheDog

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Mon May-23-11 04:11 PM
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8. Bad idea, IMHO

My kid is 9, I won't let him near Facebook. I am not going to judge or second-guess what other parents choose to do. But I am not comfortable letting my son do that.

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Brickbat

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Mon May-23-11 04:16 PM
Response to Original message

9. This wouldn't change much. Many kids younger than 13 are on with their parents' permission, and

their parents are involved in their online use. Many kids younger than 13 are on without their parents' permission, and any change in the rule isn't going to change much for them, either.

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Dappleganger

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Mon May-23-11 04:17 PM
Response to Original message

10. We made ours wait.

Of course the older two didn't have to wait, but we made the younger two wait until they turned 13. The only way I could see it happening is if private messaging was completely turned off.

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proud2BlibKansan

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Mon May-23-11 04:19 PM
Response to Original message

11. They all on there already anyway

LOL

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