Facebook Faults

More and more these days we are seeing younger children on Facebook. It is shocking to see that children as young as ten years old are joining the popular social network. According to author Brandon Griggs, there are 7.5 million children and teens under age 13 on Facebook, even though there is a rule that prohibits children under age 13 on Facebook. The sad part is not that children under age are on Facebook, it's the fact that their parents are helping them join. 95% of parents who have children under age on Facebook were not only aware that they joined, they helped them sign up. They defend their decision of allowing such young children join was that they can connect to family members and it introduces them to the world on online communication.


Personally, I agree with Griggs in that children under 13 are too young to be on Facebook. I understand their wants of connecting with family members they rarely see but there are better ways to communicate than through online chats. There are ads and themes on Facebook that are not always appropriate for younger children. However, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said "that children younger than 13 should be allowed on his service because interacting online is an important part of today's educational process." Parents are then torn as to what they should do because of the strong arguments on both sides so in the end it comes down to a personal decision. I think that elementary school children have no business being on Facebook when they can be outside and socializing face to face with friends. Hopefully, the rest of the world will realize that as well. 


Parents Help Kids Lie to Get on Facebook, Study Finds
http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/01/tech/social-media/underage-facebook-parents-study/index.html?hpt=us_c2