Does the Facebook Age Restriction Really Keep Our Children Safer When They Are On the Internet?

In a recent study parents reported that although Facebook's minimum age is 13, 36% of all parents surveyed reported that their child joined Facebook before the age of 13, and that 68% helped their child create the account.
78% parents surveyed think it is acceptable for their child to violate minimum age restrictions on online services.

Given the results of this survey, I think that our money could be better spent by educating parents and children on how to stay safe on the internet, rather than enforcing an outdated law passed in 1998 before sites like facebook were created that children and parents can get around by lying about the child's age. Websites like isafe.org, www.netsmartz.org, and www.stobullyingnow.hrsa.org provide great information both for parents and children on how to stay safe online.

Keeping your Child Safe in Cyberspace

Before beginning on a series of blog postings that are going to suggest all the dangerous that face our children out there on the internet, I think it is important to make one point very clear: the internet is a wonderful information rich world that our children will need to be using in all facets of their life. I am not suggesting that you give in to your fear of the dangers of the internet and ban them from using it, just that you empower your children and yourselves by learning all you can about internet safety.
There are a multitude of reasons that children use the internet. This list of reasons is in no way complete, but I do believe that it gives us, as parents, a sense of what an important role the internet plays in our children's lives. Our children use the internet to research information for school projects, prepare for standardized tests using on-line preparation programs, visit educational websites, play games, e-mail, instant message, social network, chat, surf for information about things that interest them, shop, sell things, post videos, and blog. Since the internet is becoming so vital to the way our world works, it is becoming more important every day that we arm ourselves and our children on how to keep save out in cyberspace.
A few websites that I recommend that you visit are: www.isafe.org, www.netsmartz.org, and www.stobullyingnow.hrsa.org. I-safe is a website for parents and I recommend that you view the I-learn modules. I will warn you that some of the videos that were created are frightening. I think that occasionally it takes getting frightened to prompt us to act. After viewing them, you may want to share a few of the videos with your children as well. I have shown these videos to children ages 9 and above. The other two sites have information and activities for you and your children. The children that I know who have gone to these sites have really enjoyed them. I think the best way to learn something is if you have fun doing it.

Great Bully Prevention Website

I have found the following website to be very informative and user friendly for both adults and children alike. This website includes advice on bullying for parents, information about cybersafety and activities for children of all ages. The website is: stopbullyingnow.hrsa.org.