Hot Topic (11/8) Social networks and kids: How young is too young?

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• by
  • Mergath
  on Nov. 8, 2009 at 12:15 AM

• I would prefer that she not use them until she leaves home.  It's one thing for people who have already graduated and have friends spread out all over the country, but why on earth does a child who sees his or her friends every day need to be on a social networking site?  The risks definitely outweigh the benefits, and if my daughter someday wants to make friends in other places, there are better ways to do that.

  
  
  

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• by
  • cowgirlsr2
  on Nov. 8, 2009 at 12:16 AM

• I set up my daughters myspace when she was 12 . I setup everything on it background and all.I told her if she changed anything or talked to people I did not let her accept it would be deleted.I check her account all the time she is almost 14 now.I set her up an account because we live in the country she can't just run down the block to a friends or go to a store. I still monitor all she does onl;ine and her time is limited
  

  
  

  
  

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• by
  • tericared
  on Nov. 8, 2009 at 12:33 AM

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  Quoting Mergath:
  
  

  I would prefer that she not use them until she leaves home.  It's one thing for people who have already graduated and have friends spread out all over the country, but why on earth does a child who sees his or her friends every day need to be on a social networking site?  The risks definitely outweigh the benefits, and if my daughter someday wants to make friends in other places, there are better ways to do that.

  
  This...my 20 yr old didnt have a Myspace until she was 18 and it is still private...If she doesnt know them she doesnt let them see her page.

  

  
  

  Politics & Religion

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• by
  • athenax3
  on Nov. 8, 2009 at 9:28 AM

• I'm in my thirties and STILL don't think I need one...though I have accounts on the networking sites, I"ve found that in large part they are an invitation to disaster, disgust and freaks, lol...my oldest dd had one at fifteen, she's sixteen she no longer has one because wierd men kept sending her messages, and trying to contact her on it- it was as if I'd placed her on the pedophile meat market, not to mention the kids from school use it to harass, bully, torment and aggravate, all and all, I found it wholely useless and potentially dangerous for my children personally. But I know many have different experiences or uses for these sites so I don't presume that my view is the singular one.
  

  
  

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• by
  • cherry41089
  on Nov. 8, 2009 at 10:48 AM

• I think 16 or older becuz younger kids don't really know the dangers that are out there and they may give out to much info. about them that a sicko can find. it would make me unease about it if my 15 or younger child had a page
  

  
  

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• by
  • Dylansmom32509
  on Nov. 8, 2009 at 11:28 AM

• I think when they get out of high school is a good age. I didn't find the need to get one until I graduated high school and the reason I did is because I went to school abroad and have family all over the world and its easier using social networking site then racking up the phone bill.
  

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• by
  • acrogodess
  on Nov. 8, 2009 at 11:44 AM

• I was considering setting up a facebook account for my soon to be 9 year old son and 7 year old daughter to share, not so they can add friends, but so that they can add their father's family members and mine because we don't live any longer close to the family. Their father however did not feel comfortable and that was that. My son really wants a myspace, but I told him no, not til he is much much older.
  

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• by
  • cowgirlsr2
  on Nov. 8, 2009 at 1:21 PM

• We all have our own opinions on this. I have my daugher set up with no personal info. She has only had 1 person she does not know contact her and it was a 16 yr old boy from Italy.But I know I'm not alone in setting her up an account because 90% of her friends have 1 as well. Like me most of there parents have set them up to ensure weirdo's don't find hem so easily and they have the ability to check them freely.
  

  
  

  
  

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• by
  • EireLass
  on Nov. 8, 2009 at 2:32 PM

• I don't think they're necessary at all for kids. My kids are now 29 & 27 and they have them, but they met kids from all over the world at their colleges. But even then......why can't they just call or email or write a letter? 

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• by
  • gigirocks
  on Nov. 8, 2009 at 4:40 PM

• I think it depends on the parent and the child. Will the parent be monitoring or not. I think if you have any child on a network site you should be monitoring by having passwords so you can check to see what they are doing or have some kind of program installed so you can see everything your child is doing. The child also needs to understand this and if they aren't willing to accept this then they shouldn't have it. I don't plan on letting my kids have one, but I also realize they have family overseas. But if I should let them, it will be monitored and limited.
  

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