Is Having A Facebook Account Safe For Children?
We all know Facebook, regardless of whether we have an account or not, since we are talking about the most popular social network in the world. Facebook requires a minimum age to create a profile, and this method has the ambition to prevent children under 13 from using the site. Considering this minimum age restriction, the following question arises: is Facebook safe for children?
We live in a reality that usually doesn’t meet the minimum age requirements when it comes to using Facebook. Anyone of any age can create an account ; just enter a false date of birth when creating it.
As a result, millions of children under the age of 13 use it every day. In fact, we must remember that Facebook has an option with which it is possible to report that a child under 13 is using the social network . This can be done by clicking on the link that takes you back to the appropriate form.
Why does Facebook prohibit children under 13 from using the site?
The reason behind the age limit imposed by Facebook is mostly related to current legislation. This legislation may vary from country to country and prevents children from accessing internet services, in order to guarantee their privacy .
If it were up to the founder, Mark Zuckenberg, Facebook could also be used by young children. Recall that in 2011 it was Zuckerberg himself who stated that the age limit should have been lowered, so that younger children could access it for educational purposes. Here, then, that the question arises again.
But is having a Facebook account safe for children?
This aspect has sparked quite a few controversies. There are many social media advocates who believe that because of their usefulness, it is good for children under 13 to use a social media such as Facebook. It may be used for educational purposes. Detractors are totally opposed to this, listing the numerous dangers children can encounter.
The important thing is to be able to understand what are the real risks that Facebook can entail and, based on this, decide whether or not we want children to use it. All this without ignoring the restrictions that Facebook itself provides to prevent children under 13 from joining the community .
A safe Facebook for minors under (and over) 13 years old
- If our children are under 13, the answer is very simple: they don’t need to have a Facebook account. In no case.
- For children over 13, the risks are always present and some can be very subtle. Online intimidation is the most obvious, although it tends to affect a small proportion of children.
Obvious risks of Facebook
Since we can’t access our child’s account without knowing his password and since Facebook won’t pass it, based on the data protection law, we probably don’t know what he’s posting, who his parents are. friends or what privacy options you have configured.
The fact of not knowing who his friends should not be underestimated, given that many stalkers do you believe children. As a result, we may not be sure that the child is communicating with other children he really knows.
The more subtle risk is the obvious fact that Facebook allows people to create an ideal image of themselves and to maintain it. This causes strong social competition and this can make children feel uncomfortable, not up to par, not accepted from a social point of view …
Also, as with any other online site , it can be difficult or impossible to delete data, depending on its nature, whether it is a photo or anything else they would never like to have published. The fingerprint is created over time and can become a real problem to remedy all this months or years later.
If children decide to create their own Facebook account
Obviously, there is a downside. If we understand that our children (over 13 years of age) have decided to open an account with Facebook, we can establish some ground rules that they must respect and explain to them the dangers they can face.
Obviously there will be risks, but the point is to understand that there will always be dangers in life and that it is better to learn to deal with them rather than always trying to avoid them. But it must be remembered that the responsibility for deciding whether our children should use Facebook or not always lies with us, whether we like it or not.
