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

[screager312]

Speaking of names used I have a cousin who uses his first and last name spelled backwards. His name is Mike he uses ekim then his last name is same way.

 

[Dar]

Quote:

Love that idea i may even use it

 

[Rozzie]

FB has been wonderful -- I've been able to connect with relatives that I've NEVER had a chance to know. It's hard to have a relationship with people when you live on the opposite side of the globe. I have family all over the US & all over the Pacific. It's been nice getting to know some of them a bit. It's also been nice for reconnecting with a few people from school. I went to a small school, so you knew folks better than you did at a large school. It's been interesting seeing WHO you end up friends with as a result, too.

I do NOT make it a habit, though, to "friend" everyone I know even marginally. I could "connect" with hundreds more people who I know from here or there. I might in the future when security settings improve even more.

 

[ranchhand]

I use my dog's fb page. I never use my real name and I have it all set to friends only. And I am very picky about adding friends.

 

[mamawolf544]

We all have FB accounts and my DD who is 14 has had one about 2 years.
I have all passwords, she cannot change her personal info on her account.
And if I see something I dont like, usually from one of her friends it is deleted.

 

[KC n KY]

Here in KY they give young people an email when they are in fourh grade, so yeah I'd say its safe to have an email when you are sixteen

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

Remind him that pictures on FB could be a problem. Back in the day if an embarrassingly photo was made there was a limited circle of people that could see it. Now the entire world can see your moments of indescretion. I know some of my college students have had really unfortunate pictures surface. While a keg party might be fun, it is less than fun when it comes back to haunt you while you are job searching.
You CAN untag yourself in those photos. I am quick to do so.

 

[PineappleMama]

DS wants one, I told him when he can enter in his CORRECT birthday and they allow him one then he can have one.

He understands why... telling the truth, info online, predators, etc.

But at the same time is annoyed because tons of kids he knows that are the same age have one... his cousin for instance claims he was born in 1990... rather than 1998... which I find surprising since his mom is at least as paranoid as I am... and the things he posts... language makes me tsk. But they've got their rules and I've got mine. All I can do is hope that nothing bad happens.

When DS gets one, if he still wants one by the time he's old enough, I'll make sure that his settings are as secure as possible so that only the handful he lets through are allowed to know anything about him... as well as a hefty lecture on who to let through... family, friends you KNOW, etc.

 

[The Chicken Lady]

Just my personal opinion for the OP... You can take it or leave it. (.02 and all that)

Your son is 16 and in two years will be an adult. I think it's a *really* good idea to start letting go of a little control at this point and allowing him to have his own e-mail, Facebook account, etc. If he's trustworthy, give him some additional freedom online that allows him to put that trust to use. After all, he needs to learn how to use this stuff if he wants to be successful in college and the workplace. Social networking/online collaboration is "t3h future!!!" and it's not going to go away.

I agree with talking with him about the risks involved in having a social networking account (i.e. employers, colleges will probably look at it). However, he could really use the practice now, so I would allow him to start using it with full support.

Not that it *really* matters, but I wonder how many of his peers have a Facebook account and their own e-mail. I'm assuming most of them do at this point.

 

[chubbydog811]

I've had an email account since I was in 3rd grade (now well out of high school)

But we had AOL, so it was really more to play games and such. Later, it turned into my mean of communication to advertise horses for sale, then later again, for horses, goats, and anything else I might sell/buy.
I also use it as a way to keep in touch with friends that I can rarely talk to.
This goes for facebook as well. There are many people that I can't talk to because either I am too busy, they are too busy, or our schedules just don't work together.
I have my profile completely blocked, and make sure I only post appropriate things, and photos (this is the "just in case" an employer or school wants to check me out.

Not bad as long as you know what to look out for!