I have friends who’s kids have facebook but only so that can talk to relatives interstate. My friends monitor the account and who they are friends with etc and everything is set to private. I actually think its not a bad thing as they can learn about internet safety before they are allowed to have their own unmonitored accounts.

I think it’s easier to let it slide as most other kids have FB and use it to contact each other. As a parent, I monitor everything my kid does on the internet but am not sure how I would monitor them if they have access to the internet elsewhere – they could log onto FB and I wouldn’t be able to see what they’re doing or who they’re talking to. A bit scary really.

I didn’t realise that either , but I know a lot of them join so they can keep in touch with their old mates especially when they changed schools etc …

yeah maybe parent don’t realise that there is an age limit?

Good idea to have the password MoM98364.

I don’t understand that either but with my kids the rule of having any social network account is that I have the password till they are 17/18 so I can frequently check on it and all their settings.

My eldest son who is 11 has an e-mail address that I closely monitor but I certainly don’t let him on any social media outlets. He watches youtube and he knows how to post on it but it is linked to my account so I can see if he posts or replies to anything. He has just started playing some games online as so many playstation and xbox games are going heavily online – even the kids ones. I just make sure I have parental controls on and I monitor his play time.

It’s actually 14 and I see this a lot too, it frustrates me, I’m not sure why parents allow it for kids so young..

Technology for this age group should be monitored and parents do need to be vigilant and establish rules, regardless of the pressure to give in!

You may well find quite a few parents may not even know their kids have face books accounts.

Good question – parents can say ‘NO’ and the kids will manage without facebook until they are allowed to have an account. Even when they are 13, it needs to be monitored! I have no idea why some parents allow it!

I wonder the same thing! I have friends and family who have set up Facebook accounts for their young children. I see some of what these kids post and it’s definitely not what children should be seeing. It’s very sad

With access to technology at a young age, this is really hard to enforce. Education, guidance and good communication between you are your kids is vital. We have family computer and electronic devices in shared family areas – nothing goes into bedrooms. This helps.