Web Wise Kids Position on Facebook Changing The Age Restriction

In the US the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is faced with a request from Facebook to lift the current age restriction that a user has to be 13 years old. This has a variety of implications to children and the safe use of Facebook as the largest social networking site on the internet. Various articles have estimated that there are millions of children under 13 that are using Facebook under false names or ages and therefore not under any parental supervision.

Web Wise Kids feels strongly that as long as children under 13 can signup for Facebook under their parents account that it is a good policy change. We also feel very strongly that the parents must be supplied with strong parental controls. It is vital to have oversight and accountability for the use of Facebook by children. In no instance should children younger than 13 be allowed full access to Facebook unsupervised.

If this change is made it will also be critical that Facebook and other organizations like Web Wise Kids provide good training and information for parents, educators and care givers. It is only through education that we can equip and prepare children to be safe and responsible on sites like Facebook.

Web Wise Kids offers an excellent educational game for kids to learn about being safe on Facebook called BeSeen. This game mirrors a social networking site and provides valuable learning experiences for children. The game is a little like training wheels for a social networking experience. When playing the game you get to create an avatar and enter into the simulated social networking world of North Central High School. To learn more about BeSeen and the companion classroom lesson materials click here.