Facebook and Children: Cyber-expert Says No to Kids Under 13 for Family Safety
Posted on May 26, 2012 with No Comments
Online family safety is a hot topic right now, especially with Facebook and children. Parents who allow children younger than 13 to use facebook are exposing their children to serious dangers of the internet and are 'living in La La Land' says ex-cop.
A former Victoria Police officer turned cyber-safety consultant says parents who let their children go on facebook before they are teenagers and compromising family safety and 'not doing a good enough job as a parent'.
Cyber safety expert Susan McLean advised Harlaxton State School in Queensland, who are threatening to expel students who join facebook or refuse to delete their accounts. With very few parents and school officials who know how to monitor Facebook, there are real issues surrounding Cyber bullying, privacy, how to be safe online and the lack of regulation for those under 13 using the social network.
"I think the issue is not about the fact that the principal may or may not be reviewing a child's enrollment," says Susan Mclean."The issue is that there are young people using facebook against the Terms and Conditions of Use," she says.
Susan compares Facebook and children under age 13 to those children under age 15 see innapropriately rated films. "There's rules there for very good reasons and I think we are doing children a disservice if we pick and choose what rules we think kids should obey," says Susan Mclean. She believes it's immaterial if people disagree with the rule.
"You are signing up to facebook," she says, "When you sign up you say I accept, I accept, I agree, I agree, I agree." She says if you allow your child on facebook you are putting your child at risk for internet dangers.
"I don't care whether you reckon you supervise or not you don't have any idea about what goes on on facebook," she says."You're not living in the real world, you're in La La Land".
Facebook has picked an age for a reason and they do acknowledge that there are dangers on the internet and there are online predators. Unfortunately many people have no idea about how predatory some people are online.
"No-one can pick a paedophile, it doesn't matter who you are, and these people are extremely clever," says Susan. Why any parent would want to put a child in a place of risk anytime before they need to be there completely goes against basic rules of online family safety.
Susan said that parents should not be fear-mongering… "it's being realistic and understanding the nature of the internet. I think the internet's fabulous and I don't think we should demonise facebook or social media."
"When it's not fabulous is when young children are doing the wrong thing online."
View Original Source Article: http://www.abc.net.au/local/audio/2012/05/17/3505219.htm