Facebook Considers Allowing Kids Under 13
Is the world's largest social networking site going to let kids join in an effort to save face?
Perhaps in an attempt to boost stock prices after their latest price dip, Facebook is reworking their policies to potentially allow users under 13 to create profiles.
Along with the age limit adjustment would come new parental controls options that would allow parents to monitor friend requests, manage the privacy controls of children’s Facebook profiles, and limit the applications kids are allowed to use. New features would also include a way to link the child’s profile to the parents’ for optimum safety.
[Read "How Young is Too Young For Facebook?"]
However, Nick Pickles of the campaign group Big Brother Watch, told Daily Mail, “It’s very hard to see how this is going to be a positive step for privacy.” He voiced his concern that, “Facebook will hold a staggering amount of data about us from cradle to grave.”
But supporters point to data that shows many children under 13 already have accounts, despite the current age restrictions. According to a recent survey from Consumer Reports, over 7.5 million children ages 12 and younger are on Facebook - including 5 million under the age of 10.
[Read "Why I Caved on Facebook"]
As the Wall Street Journal asked, what's the better compromise - create safeguards for parents who allow their younger children on Facebook or continue to restrict the site and ignore the safety issues that come with unregulated use?
At what age would you let your child create a Facebook account?
- Log in to add favorite
- Share
