Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Facebook--Is it right or wrong?

I'm a rules girl.  I like rules.  I do what is right.

The other night at dinner they undercharged us for our beer, and I pointed it out.

When I walked out of Target with a pillow underneath the cart that I forgot to pay for, we went back so I could pay for it.

It's just the way I roll.  I watched my parents do the exact same thing, and I learned.

Then facebook arrived.

You have to be 13 to get an account, and last time I checked, I didn't have any 13 year old children.

They understand why they can't have it, but they still want an account.  Do they really need to talk to their friends that also aren't old enough to be on there?  Do they really need to waste time playing Farmville or Petville?  Is there some reason they need Facebook that I am missing?

Am I totally a crappy parent because I won't bendbreak the rules?  I see tons of people to do it, but I just can't justify doing it.

There are rules for a reason, and I just don't understand those that break those rules, because their kid wants it.  If my daughter wants to go vote when she's 17, I can't let her.  If she wants to drive when she's 15, she can't do that either.  Does it make a difference that it is a rule and not a law?  I don't think so.

What do you think?  Does your child have one if they are not 13?  If so, why?  If not, why not?  Please tell me I'm not the only one...

18 comments:

Amy said...

You are definitely not the only one! I don't allow my kids to be on there and even then I still think 13 is still too young. Why does a 13 year old even need to be on FB? It was designed as a networking tool and who does a 13 year old have to network with?

I'm totally with you on this one. Then again I'm also completely against my kids having a cell phone until they are old enough to pay for it too....

Anonymous said...

I respect your stance very much. I have a 7 y.o. step daughter and a 7 y.o. niece. Our niece lives with her grandparents and they made her a FB. account. For a 7 YEAR OLD! I can't even imagine letting my step daughter, there is no way. I think 13 might even be too young

Anonymous said...

I respect your stance very much. I have a 7 y.o. step daughter and a 7 y.o. niece. Our niece lives with her grandparents and they made her a FB. account. For a 7 YEAR OLD! I can't even imagine letting my step daughter, there is no way. I think 13 might even be too young

Meg said...

I agree with you completely. Even though FBook has its' fair share of rules, it is still a dangerous place for someone who is not experienced enough to protect themselves from the "bad" things that happen there. Just like MySpace and every other social networking site, there are sick people out there, and there's no reason to expose a child to that if it can be prevented. I'm with you, ABW. Rules are rules for a reason.

LaDonna Rae said...

I am also a rule follower...I too believe that FB rules should be followed. You are not a mean parent. Kids respect it when parents set boundries, even when as a parent its sometimes difficult to repeatedly enforce those bounderies.... It can be difficult for adults to navigate the world of FB, you at times wish people wouldn't comment or post what they do. I believe that children have an even more difficult time navigating the FB world. I don't know I feel that kids grow up so fast, they face so many harsh realities that weren't even an consideration when I was a kid (in case you wonder I'm 34)I wish there was more that we could do to preserve and protect their innocence. That innocence that only a child can have...

Anonymous said...

I wish more parents followed the rules and exercised common sense. This post reminds me of the four year old I saw yesterday riding around the neighborhood on her bike (with training wheels still attached) and chatting on her cell phone. What?! That's ridiculous.

Michelle said...

I don't have kids so I can't give too much insight, but a friend of mine set up a FB account for her 10 YO son. It was a closed and private account (he wasn't in any of the searches and was pretty limited). She supervised him any time he was on the computer. He basically just had it to play Farmville, not to network or talk to strangers. Apparently, someone tattled on him and FB shut him down because he wasn't 13. So, just know if FB finds out they'll take the account down if they find out someone is under 13.

Unknown said...

I think you are completely right!!

Crazy Shenanigans-JMO said...

I think you're completely right! At that young of an age I don't know if they really "need" a facebook page.

The Mrs. said...

im a total rule dork. why do you need a facebook page under 13? stick with your guns karma will pay you in the end.

ps. it mailed today priority, you should get it this weekend

The Mrs. said...

im a total rule dork. why do you need a facebook page under 13? stick with your guns karma will pay you in the end.

ps. it mailed today priority, you should get it this weekend

The Mrs. said...

im a total rule dork. why do you need a facebook page under 13? stick with your guns karma will pay you in the end.

ps. it mailed today priority, you should get it this weekend

The Mrs. said...

im a total rule dork. why do you need a facebook page under 13? stick with your guns karma will pay you in the end.

ps. it mailed today priority, you should get it this weekend

Mel said...

The whole point of that rule is to protect the kids from things they just don't need/want to see/read. Granted, most 13-yr-olds are more tech savvy then the average 40-yr-old these days, but the rule (as most are) is there for a reason. You don't need your child asking odd questions or using phrases/words they read on FB that they have no business with. Just silly...And there's no reason for them to be on it. Heck, there's no reason for me to be on it and I'm 26! :)

d.a.r. said...

I have always been of the mind that rules are there for a reason--to protect you. And what on earth does a 10 year old need with a FB account? If it is to play games, can't you just rent a video game? The internet and the ability for minors to be preyed upon scares the bejeezus out of me.

Anonymous said...

Ok dearest cousin of mine.... Ill tell you why my kids have a fb account.... haha... The friends on their account is family only it is a private account that I monitor all the time... Yes they play farmville and love it... But the most important thing is.... Because of it my ADD ADHD Dyslexic child has learned to read because he will get on the computer and chat with other family not just me... Its an awesome learning tool for me...

Anonymous said...

Rules are rules. Justifications are for breaking the rules. If the kids aren't 13, they shouldn't have an account. Period. I'm all for reporting kids on there under 13. People say they're restricted/private accounts, but some of these kids are smart enough to change them--it's not like there's a setting that says "restricted use only for under 13 year old user/please contact my parent or guardian" because they're not supposed to be on there. Go take a look at www.lamebook.com and see if those comments are things you want your kid possibly seeing.

McMGrad89 said...

I am with you. I don't let C use Facebook even though all of her friends are on it. Even at 13, I find it an inappropriate place. Facebook and several other places are full of cyberbullying. I won't be letting C on to FB for a while.