Young kids using Facebook

I enjoy Facebook as much as the next person, so why shouldn't we let our kids use it? Aside from the obvious dangers of being cyberstalked by strangers, cyberbullying, and not understanding the true meaning of PRIVACY settings...they could also be targeted by advertising companies.

As if it is not annoying enough to be hassled by the kids when they see ads on TV, we now may have to contend with Facebook. 

OK, advertising in Facebook is not new, but Facebook allowing preteens to use Facebook is (or will be soon), and this is where the concern of advertising to very young kids comes in.

Facebook does claim that they are taking the issue seriously and listening to recommendations, but what if this changes in the future? How do we really know our kids won't have ads targeted at them everytime they login? It is so easy for them to click on those ads and be taken anywhere on the Web.

It is every parent's responsibility to teach kids about cybersafety, and marketing goes hand in hand with it. It may be simple enough to advise teenagers on the wrongs and rights of advertising, but how do you explain it to a ten year old, or nine, or eight, or seven....?

I believe that it is important to teach our kids about using social networks as they are very good resources if you know how to use them safely, but I, for one, will not be letting young kids use Facebook if there is advertising popping up next to status updates from their friends. The digital world is confusing enough at a young age....and mummy's credit card just doesn't stretch that far!

If Facebook starts allowing kids under 13 to use Facebook, will you let your kids sign up? What are your thoughts on Facebook advertising to kids?

Image(s): FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Is your teen's Facebook status putting them in danger?

 Millions of teenagers around the world are using Facebook on a daily basis, but do they really know the consequences of their status updates?

Recently, an Australian teenager posted photos on her Facebook page of large wads of cash that her grandmother was counting. As a result, two masked men invaded her mother's home trying to find it. The money was not in the house but they got away with a small amount of cash. Fortunately, no one was injured.

This incident begs the question: do you know what your kids are really up to on Facebook?

As parents, we are responsible for bringing our kids up and teaching them right from wrong, but how many of us know what to teach them when it comes to the digital age? Everything on the Web is persistent and can follow us for the rest of our lives. It is up to parents to guide our children through their Internet footprints so they don't live to regret the choices they make in their digital lives.

The case above shows unawareness of privacy and trust issues on the Internet. We must teach our children that they never really know who is watching in our real lives as well as virtual.

Have you had a dangerous experience caused by Facebook use?