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

[screager312]

My advice is don't let him broadcast everything your family is doing. My niece has a problem doing this and I can call my brother and tell him everything that is going on in his family, what weekend they are going out of town etc. This is useful info to a thief.

Also, have his account set to private where nobody can see his friends list unless they are his friend. This way possible stalkers can't email his friends trying to get info about him. I speak from experience on this one.

One last thing, don't let him put his dob, address, or phone number on his profile.

 

[Rozzie]

The last message had good advice.

No messages like, "We are leaving on Monday for vacation!"

We are all going to Grandma's house later today for....

This broadcasts that your house is empty.

Post the news AFTER you return, not while you are away. This protects you all.

And, be cautious about posting things like,

"Our new 60" flat screen is so Kewl!"

It isn't so much the FRIENDS you have to worry about usually -- it's THEIR family members or whoever they might tell...

 

[cheri222]

My son is pretty responsible but not always and some of the kids could use parental intervention. One girl sent him an invitation to the I want to commit suicide club!! He learned not to accept friend post's from strangers, got nude pictures of someone??? Then the latest, do not open anything that says I have a video of you in the shower(esp if its from the uk). That was one wopper virus and of course my protection wasn't the best. So all I can say is it is a responsibility and monitor it until you are sure he can deal with it properly. I would be a fool to pretend I can shelter him from this. I have hidden many of his cousins due to the foulness of what they write.

 

[Sunny Side Up]

Quote:
The problem with email is the amount of junk mail that comes through, even with Spam filters. I like having everyone share one email address so I can see & delete the junk mail before someone innocently opens up something they shouldn't.

All this additional advice is really helpful, thank you! Please add more if you can.

Wilma is getting a good education!

 

[Dar]

I dont know if its been said... but..... the rule in my house... if you are using MY computer to access it then i have the password! I will snoop (and trust me I do!) they know it...

i told my kids if u dont want want me or grandma to find out about something then its best NOT to post it on FB... what goes on the internet stays on the internet.... and I have also cautioned them that schools "troll" FB and so do employers

 

[SillyChicken]

also not a good idea to talk smack about anyone... friends of friends can see your posts etc... you never know who's friends with a friend with a friend etc.. word can travel fast.

Also..... my DD just learned this. Baker college stalks their students on fb. If they say anything negative about teachers or the school they get into trouble. Employers can do the same thing. Choose friends carefully.

never mention going on vacation etc...

 

[bargain]

Please be sure to let him know that future employers and schools etc, now scan the internet for information about prospects. Scholarships have been lost as well as prospective jobs from facebook and other "innocuous" internet info, so he should be cautious on how he presents himself as well. Several TV specials recently on this. Glad you care dnough to call the concerns!

 

[screager312]

Quote:
Perfect reason to make your profile private. If you are not a friend of mine then you cannot see my profile or my friends list. Of I don't trust someone I will ban them in a way that if they look up my name it will not show up on the search, meaning they will think I don't have a FB page

 

[pbjmaker]

Quote:
Perfect reason to make your profile private. If you are not a friend of mine then you cannot see my profile or my friends list. Of I don't trust someone I will ban them in a way that if they look up my name it will not show up on the search, meaning they will think I don't have a FB page

I have a friend who does this and on top of it she uses her first and middle name but not her last, so people who try to find her will never be able to do it.

 

[Muggsmagee]

He should be careful who he adds as his "friends". I saw another poster mention people sometimes want AS MANY friends as possible, so will try to add him as a friend just because. Tell him not to be swayed by this. If he only has 16 friends, that is okay! I just deleted over 130 people from my list...because of the garbage they post, or because they weren't really my friend. I feel if someone isn't going to say hi to you face to face in the grocery store, they shouldn't be your "friend" on FB. Also, your son can be "tagged" in pictures by his fb friends. Any picture, whether he is really in it or not. Any of his friends on facebook can see a picture he is "tagged" in, even if they are not friends with the person who tagged your son. The problem with this is sometimes kids can be mean and tag someone in an inappropriate picture. My friends tag me in pictures of their chickens and puppies all the time, etc just to share the photo with me.

As long as your son uses good choices in friends, posts, pictures, etc., he should be okay with a FB account. Fiddle fart around on FB. You will get used to the layout and etiquette the more you practice. Just put those privacy settings in place.

I personally have reconnected with people I haven't seen since I was 4! It is an amazing site when used with precaution.