Gaurav Rathore
His write-ups blend creativity, personal experience, and tailored technical advice, meeting reader needs effectively.
Facebook is undoubtedly the favorite pick of netizens (both kids and adults alike) when it comes to sharing photos or videos. However, many parents on the internet have expressed their concerns, saying that their kids shouldn’t be on Facebook.
According to Forbes, ‘scientists have recently discovered that platforms such as Facebook and Twitter can pose more serious threats to your well-being than previously thought—even if you’ve never used them.’
So, if your child uses Facebook in their leisure time, you might want to check out this blog and get familiar with the dangers that await your children on the app. So, let’s jump in!
Quick Answer:
Facebook is a social networking site that lets users share content and connect with family and friends. However, the app has some inappropriate content and is known for being the hub for predators and cybercriminals.
Hence, I don’t recommend Facebook to kids under 13.
Facebook is a social networking site that allows you to share content, such as pictures, videos, music, and articles. It lets users ‘connect with friends, family, and other people they know, share content, and get updates.’
It was founded by Mark Zuckerberg in 2004 and was originally limited to only North American universities, which later became accessible to netizens in 2006. Today, it’s the most popular social media site worldwide, with around 2.9 billion monthly active users.
As mentioned earlier, Facebook allows you to send messages and share status updates. However, it is unlike emails and instant messaging apps, which are relatively private, and thus, the content shared on this platform is more public.
To get started with Facebook, first, you need to create an account by entering your personal information and verifying your identity. After you are done, you can start communicating with people and send ‘friend requests’ to people you may or may not know.
Apart from that, you can also browse and join spaces, discover a match from a web-based email account, and use Facebook’s search engine to look for specific people.
No, Facebook is not safe for kids! According to Facebook’s safety page, it is not safe for kids at all!
Although the app has an age limit on who can create a profile, which is 13 years old, kids as young as 4 are using the app. Not only that, the exposure to inappropriate content is considered the top disturbing aspect of Facebook for children.
If you look at the history of the app, you will find that it was not made with kids in mind, as people freely share and connect with strangers. Hence, it becomes pretty easy for kids to become the target of online predators and various bizarre crimes.
Hence, I recommend that kids under 13 must abstain from using this app.
Although the user-friendly interface of Facebook might seem tempting to kids, it has its repercussions. So, let’s take a look!
As the Facebook setting is by default set to public, everything your kids share on the platform is easily accessible to strangers online, increasing the chances of criminals misusing the information.
Research has found that ‘reporting of minor crimes on Facebook ‘distorts’ perception of safety.’ This research stands as a testament to the instances of kids being subjected to the atrocities of criminals lurking on Facebook.
With the lack of privacy settings in place, bullies on the internet find it very easy to hack kids’ private information and use it for bullying.
Facebook allows kids to connect with strangers on the internet. However, there is no guarantee that those strangers are genuine or aren’t disguising themselves to bait your kids.
This social media platform is known to cater to the older generation, which increases the chances for your kids to encounter some age-inappropriate content.
Yes, Facebook has parental controls. So, if you are a parent looking to ensure your child’s safety by setting parental controls on Facebook, you can refer to the settings mentioned below.
If you tend to live in fear that your child might get into grave trouble while using FB, I recommend you follow the effective tips listed below.
Have a one-on-one conversation with your child and tell them how using Facebook can pose more serious threats to their mental and physical well-being. Remember to be transparent and explain to them why you want them to stay off the app.
Facebook offers various built-in parental controls, as I’ve mentioned earlier, so refer to them to ensure your child’s safety.
If you think the built-in controls are lacking, I recommend you install a third-party parental control app on your kid’s device.
Teach your child what is okay to post and what isn’t, and educate them on how to deal with inappropriate content and what measures to take in an emergency.
Although Facebook is not a safe place for kids, with the right settings and parental controls in place, your kids can benefit from staying connected with friends and family.
To ensure that, you must remain vigilant and monitor your child’s activity on the app, so your kids can have a healthy relationship with Facebook.
No, your child needs to be at least 13 years old before they can create an account on Facebook.
You should allow your kid to use Facebook depending on their age, maturity, and ability to handle inappropriate content.
There are some shows available on Facebook that might not be suitable for all audiences.
