Teens with their own FaceBook pages--concerns/cautions?

[teach1rusl]

My son is 17 and has had a facebook account since he was 15. I required (and still do) that I be on his "friend" list. When he moves away from home, he can remove me as a friend if he wishes.

 

[DuckLady]

I will go to Facebook to look up members here if needed.

What really bothers me is if it turns out that the member I am looking for is a minor and their wall and info is open to everyone.

I have seen phone numbers, pictures, contact and address of the kid, which is hugely unsafe.

I think all minors should have very private accounts that only their parent-approved friends can see.

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Terrie, I had a college sophmore bring up her Facebook page to show me pics of her sister. This girl was young and sweet and cute and completely naive. On her FB page was a bit about "oh I am working alone in the theatre tonight trying to get the set painted". She also listed our university name and other pertinent info. This was back in the day before the building self locked and it was always open. There was pretty much 100% access to whomever wished to enter. She didn't understand why I chewed her out. She had no privacy set ups on her page and pretty much the entire world had access to it. Anybody and everybody could have come to the theatre and done whatever they wished to her.

I explained in great detail what the possible ramifications were of her actions. She was a little less naive when she left my office, but hopefully safer. We have since changed how students access the building and all the doors autolock. You have to have an ID to get in to the theatre and all the shops stay locked all the time. It is still not safe for the young ladies to share with the world where they will be.

Sigh. They are clueless.

 

[MsPony]

Internet is as safe as you make it. I started out years ago at age 11 playing Horseland and emailing horse people with my moms earthlink account! I am "internet smart" which is the new "street smart", but that's come with 9+ years of learning and practice. The first time I sent money to someone for their "gold" account and never got the login info, was the first time I learned my smarts.

I'm a firm believer in knowing his password and monitoring what he does/says and friends too. I'm 20+ and my mom has me on FB (no security against her, its the full Kahuna), has passwords to important things like school, bank, etc. She doesnt "monitor" me, but its an "incase".

 

[darkmatter]

Quote:
Facebook is how I keep in touch with my adult Kids and extended family, I've also met (if you can call it that) many interesting people from around the world. (eccentric would be a kind description) and also many BYC people. (Rabid fanatics would be a honest description) My website link on my profile is to my facebook page and a look into my boring life and family. Look me up and request friendship if you like, mention BYC, so I know where you got my link from. As for dangers? No worse then going to the Mall or ATM, don't be a victim or stupid.

 

[chixie]

my dd is 14 she has a face book... I have her pass word and if there is someone on her friends list that I dont aprove of I delete them.... I keep a close watch on what she is doing on there,