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The dangers of Facebook for kids far outweighs the positives for this mommy. This is one area that I feel strongly about. I have been called over protective among other names since I refuse to comply with the Facebook norm. But I am not budging on this family rule.

facebook dangers for kids

My husband and I do not allow our children to have a Facebook account until their seventeenth birthday. We feel that once they turn 17 and are responsible, we can monitor their Facebook etiquette for at least a year before they leave the house.

However, they must comply with our Internet Safety Rules.

Facebook requires that a person must be 13 before they can create an account. However, a consumer report that I found online states 7.5 million are under the age of 13.

Really?

Folks if you allow your child under the age of 13 to have a Facebook account, you are allowing them to point-blank lie to the world. What type of message is this teaching our children?

There is too much at stake for me to allow my children on Facebook at this age. I certainly do not see any Facebook police out there either. Also, research suggested that since most parents are on Facebook now, teen children secretly create another account.

Imagine that….Parents are making Facebook not FUN anymore for adolescence.

Here are the 9 Dangers of Facebook for Kids

  • Real Threats
  • Hate Crimes
  • Sharing too much Information – my children are notorious for this one
  • Cyber Bullying
  • Internet Addiction
  • Pornography
  • Online Predators
  • Affect Children’s Future
  • Identity Theft

The dangers listed above are real and happen daily on Facebook.  Children are often coerced into things that they would not necessarily take part in if faced with it in the real world.  The online environment makes it seem surreal and makes it very easy for them to participate in.

Don’t think for a minute that this is a concern to Facebook, if it was a true concern, they would have the profile default set to private and not public.

Each family must make their own decision about Facebook. Please talk to you children about Internet Safety with this FREE printable.

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Do you agree or disagree with the dangers of Facebook for kids? What age do you allow your children to go on Facebook?