Social networking...just Curious...

I have a FB and so does my 13 year old son. My other one has one set up but I set it up from my games. And he's never been on it. But my 13 year old gets on his sometimes. Not a lot but when he does either myself or his girlfriends mom is there cause we are the only two that know his password. He does not even know it yet. That way I can monitor what goes on on it. It's all in how you approach it.

Just like with anything else, everyone is different & makes different decisions for their kids.

In some areas I feel like I'm really relaxed with my kids, but the internet is NOT one of them. My daughter is 11 1/2 & my son will be 13 in a few months. Neither of them are on FB. For that matter, neither of them even has their own email address. How do I know? Because they don't EVER have access to a computer when I'm not around. Neither of them have their own cell phones, either, because I just do not think it's necessary at this time in their lives.

Overprotective? Maybe, but you know what? My husband is a Sheriff's Deputy & works full-time in a middle school with kids the same age as ours. Trust me, we know what happens to kids whose parents allow them to make all of the rules in the house & it's not a pretty sight.

my older son is 24. He got his 1st phone at age 16 when he got his driver's license.

my younger son is 15. He got his 1st phone at age 12 when he began walking to/from middle school. Strict usage rules. At about the same time, he began using the internet more. He did not setup an email address until about age 13-14, & joined FB when he was 14. We have not had any issues as of yet.

We have found- with our younger son- that a lot of school communications goes thru the internet. This is particularly true with Band!

Parental controls are in place, & I monitor regularly....including checking what's on his phone. Made him mad at 1st, but ...it's part of my job. :)

I dont share much personal info, other than mild positive stuff.

I did share when we had to have a cancerous tumor removed from our dog (it completely freaked it me; I thought she was going to die). But mostly I don't share much personal stuff. There's too many ears out. I'm "friends" with coworkers, family members, so venting on either subject is off limits (for me, personally).

I use Facebook... Waaay more than I should! lol. In my defense, both my family and my husband's live far away. So my FB page is pretty much a way to keep our families updated on our DD's life. The only information I put on my page is my name... ALL other information I either leave out or make something up. My DD is only 2, so it doesn't make any difference whether she sees what I'm doing or not... But my view is that I should lead by example. So if I'm doing something on the computer that I wouldn't want her to see... I shouldn't be doing it. lol. As far as her own site... I wouldn't have a problem letting my DD have her own profile when she shows an interest (within reason). Heck, by the time she is old enough to want one, there will probably be one for kids her age. BUT... I will be the one to set up her account, and I WILL have the password. I will be present while she is on the site, until I am confident that she knows how to use the internet safely, and that I can trust her to do so.

i have a fb account. i think im more stringent than most. (my son is 5 so hasn't had to worry about this yet, but i'm anticipating the day...-although a coworker's 5 year old has one - i don't think she "uses" it, more of a "fan" page...don't get me started...)

of course all my "stuff" is private - friends only. and i only have about 100 friends. that seems like a lot to me but it is all personal friends (not "acquaintances") and family. i have several classmates from hs that i have reconnected with. but i have friended many acquaintances and "old" friends that turned out, are kind of dirtbags, so out they went. also goes for people who never, ever, ever say a word to me on fb (or in rl either), or update their status. that just creeps me out. why have it? delete.

i also don't post pictures i wouldn't want my grandmother to see - she is a friend on my fb. as are great aunts and uncles, cousins, etc, from all over the country. i definitely keep it family friendly.

my child will have to give me their password and while i won't insist on being their "friend", i will keep tabs on what's going on. nothing his grandmother wouldn't be able to see should go on his, either.

there's no privacy on those things. there's only the illusion of privacy. anyone who posts party pics, drunk pics, smoking (*whatever*) pics...just looks like a not-so-intelligent person, imho.

i don't know when i'd let him. honestly i don't even know what the "legal" age is. he'd have to show interest first, which he doesn't. then i'd have to think about it. i'm not sure the "legal" age is what i would go by strictly...especially considering i would set it up, i would have the password, etc. but i'd have to feel comfortable with whatever might pop up, so i would have to think about that. hopefully it's years away! :)

My son has a "games only" account.
Don't forget this, potential stalkers--if you think you're talking to him, you're really talking to ME.
And stalkers are a problem--especially with Facebook.
I had issue with another mom here who stalked me on FB.
Oddly, she often preaches about internet safety--go figure!

I'm on FB pretty much constantly, I get it on my phone. I do have twitter also, mostly for my business but never got the hang of it. I also checkd out Pintrest but it was WAY too time consuming as I felt the need to copy and paste everything into a word doc that I wanted to keep and I was on it for HOURS. So not so much anymore. My kids are 12 and 9. They don't have anything but a DS, including cells phones. I thought they were the *only* ones that didn't have a phone yet. My husband went with our 12 yo to chaperone summer camp and he rode up with 3 other dads. NONE of their 6th graders had phones yet. They said they were going to try to hold off until they go to High School. YEAH FOR THEM!!! I just don't feel like my kids are mature and responsible enough and they are never by themselves anywhere and they know all of our phone numbers. My daughter (the 12 yo) just recently asked if she can have a FB account. I'm not too sure. If she does, I will monitor it like a hawk. I'm also not looking forward to seeing my ex on there as her friend, which I know will be likely. Even with talking to them about all the crazy things that can happen on the internet, I'm not convinced that they *get it*. So as of right now, they don't have anything. Oh, and I think when they do get cells, they will only be able to talk on them, *maybe* texting, but limited and probaby not cameras. I don't think there is too much monitoring you can do. Just my opinion.

I am on FB, hubby is on FB but not as much as me. All my grandkids have FB accounts for the purpose of playing games. They only have me and a few selected friends who play those games with me and with them. I do not thing they should have the right to tell me when I can do anything with the kids. I don't know anyone except one friend who does not have their kids an account on FB. They do not, none of them, have access to any computer that is not in the common rooms of the house. All the kids computers are in the living room or family rooms off the main areas of the house...they are under constant supervision.

I have all the kids privacy set to being hidden. That means that if you typed in their names, town, schools, etc...you would not be able to find them. IF you had friends in common and did the same thing you would still not find them. They would not show up as friends on your friends friend lists, etc...they are completely hidden from being searched. The only way they can add a friend is if they search that friend out themselves. I do not allow that. They have very strict rules for being on the computer.

I share pictures, I manage some FB "like" pages for some businesses, I know the FB guru who teaches the FB business aspect and often discuss things with her.

She says that if the kids pictures are in the local papers they get more exposure to outside strangers there than on FB depending on your privacy options. I have my stuff for friends only. They can always copy a picture and download it to their hard drive and then share it but as for just hitting a share button it is not there.

I am a bit concerned about all the big bad world out there but realistically kids are more often than not taken, molested, harmed etc...by family members or family friends, neighbors, teachers, coaches, pastors, etc....than strangers.