Is It OK for Teens to Join on Facebook?

[Kitchen_Fairy]

I am a mother of two girls. My 14 year old joined Facebook just recently. I allowed her because she told me she just wants to connect with her friends and with our long distant relatives. Do you think I made a right decision allowing her? I am worried since I have heared many online threats on the news.

[MP_W]

Don't worry you made the right decision! :-) This gives you the opportunity to monitor her on Facebook, rather than her make a secret account behind your back which kids do sometimes. A great way to monitor without having to log in to her account and look at EVERYTHING is a Facebook app called GoGoStat Parental Guidance. It sends you notification when unsafe or potentially embarrassing things are detected, while leaving out the rest. Gives your daughter some privacy (which is HIGHLY valued at that age) but you can still know that you are protecting on Facebook. Here is the website if you want to check it out: http://www.gogostat.com/Home/Parental Also, know how to use it yourself if you don't already, so that you can help your daughter make the right decisions!

[ksims]

I have to agree with MP_W. Facebook is a way of life for most teens these days. All three of my kids are on it, and I'm one of their friends, so I can see what's going on. That was the stipulation of them joining. I had to be accepted as a friend. I don't pry, but I do monitor. I had never heard of the app MP mentioned, though. I am certainly going to check that out, as I have a 13 year old girl, and for some reason am more concerned with her dealings on FB than the two boys. It's a cruel world out there, but I think letting her join FB was the right decision. Just don't be afraid to be involved.

[Prica]

Just put down a few rules, require her to Ask you before adding any friends, make sure you know personally any friends esp adult friends that she adds. Secure her account so that only friends get personal information. Make sure you know her password, let her know that you have the right to get on her account with out asking her or letting her know, that is a condition of her privilege to have the account.
And be careful that she gives no email out, there is an email service attached to her account that should be plenty for those she cannot personally give an email address to, no phone numbers, or addresses either. Make sure you review all the personal information she enters to make sure there isn't too much personal information, even though the account is secured a few can still hack in and get personal information esp email account addresses and get delicate information.
I would also have a personal account of your own, add your daughter as a friend and face book will send you all her posts and actions, as well as alerts about who is messaging your daughter and what they say.
She may not always like it, but it is the best way to keep her safe. Take these precautions and she should be very safe on face book.

[Kitchen_Fairy]

@MP_W: Thank you very much fr your advice. I went to see the website you gave me and I can tell it’s a good software. I am still figuring how it fully works though, lol. I am not very good with computers. How long have you been using that site? I can see that you are satisfied. Is there anything you like vey much and do not like with the website? Have you heared of Social Shield. I have been recomended with it. Says it’s very great parental control software.

@ksims & @Prica: Thank you very much. I agree with all of you. I know that the internet is a very good educationa tool as well as teaching them social awareness, with just proper guidance. Despite of this, I am torn between letting her keep her account and the possible online dangers. Am I just being paranoid?

[MP_W]

I have been using it a few months. I really like how it only gives notifications on when sketchy things are posted by the child, so the child can have some privacy. Also, it sends notifications when the child adds a friend and shows who it is, and organizes the friends by age and location so its easy to see if anything is out of the ordinary. There are notifications when photos are uploaded and when profile details are changed/added as well. I have heard of social shield, what does your friend say about it?

[MP_W]

A great resource I found is a book called A Parents Guide to Facebook made by Connect Safely Organization. here is a link to the PDF > http://www.connectsafely.org/pdfs/fbparents.pdf its really short, but has great information for parents of children on Facebook, and some tips and tricks

[MrsBurke]

I also have allowed my son join FB since all of his classmates have it. He shares it his sister also so it's good. Lol

[Kitchen_Fairy]

@MP_W: Thank you. Well, I think social shield and gogostat are basically the same. Well of course gogostart is free, lol. My friend says social shield alert parents when an adult tries to befriend your child. It also automatically blocks inappropriate postings.
@MrsBurke: Have you had an experience where you had to delete one of your child's friends because of their inappropriate postings online?