Latest from guest blogger Taryn Skees on, “Social Networking and Our Children”
Posted by Catherine on January 18, 2012 : 1 comments
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Social Networking and Our Children
Every day I read a handful of status updates on Facebook that make me cringe. Whether it’s people exposing a little more than I’d care to know (bathroom habits, details of bad relationships, etc.), overly political/religious my-way-or-the-highway posts, or outright making fun of a person or group of people, sometimes I cannot believe how people choose to use the web. And most of those are adults!
As for the younger generations, I am friends with several of my younger family members on Facebook – extended family who are in middle or high school. And every now and then, when I see them call their mom a not-so-nice name or talk in code about last nights raging party, I can’t help but think how glad I am that Facebook and other social networking sites were not around when I was their age.
The adolescent years are difficult enough without having to worry about cyber-bullying or someone posting a picture of underage me with a beer in my hand at a party I shouldn’t have been at (not saying that ever happened…). As an adult, Facebook has been extremely useful. I’ve connected with friends I haven’t seen in 10, even 20 years. I can network with people with similar interests. I can spread awareness about the various causes I support. But in the hands of immature teenagers, I fear that social networking can be downright dangerous.
I know that most of these websites have an age restriction – Facebook’s is 13 – but if a child has access to a computer in their home, and most do, I suspect it isn’t difficult for kids to get around such rules. Let’s face it, my 4 year old already knows how to enter my screen lock password on my laptop and can get to his favorite YouTube videos on my iPad. It isn’t going to take a genius for a child under 13 to setup and access their very own Facebook page without their parents’ consent.
When my boys are older, I plan to set strict rules for using computers in our household. Things like blocking certain websites, monitoring their online activity and limiting the amount of time they are allowed in front of a computer. I’m not sure at what age I will allow them to participate on social networking sites like Facebook (or whatever the next big thing is by that time). Whenever that time comes, I hope that I’ve already impressed upon them the values and morals that must be carried out in any type of communication – whether it’s in-person, in writing or online.
I know I have several years before this issue arises in our household, but in the meantime I’m curious: Do you allow your kids on Facebook? At what age? How do you protect them online?
Taryn blogs about her family, motherhood and everything in between at http://www.moreskeesplease.com. You can read more about her here. You can also connect with Taryn on Twitter @MoreSkeesPlease and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/moreskeesplease.
Kristin Shaw
January 18, 2012Some great points, Taryn. It's pretty scary, some of the things our kids will face that we didn't. I haven't even considered what I'll allow him access to and what I won't, but it won't be long before I will have to make some decisions!