Facebook has been deleting accounts of kids under 13 years old who are roaming around their social networking site. And they are not just plainly roaming around – they engage themselves in Facebook activities most of the older people do.
Like any other social networking site, you have to be of the appropriate age to be able to manage your own social network account. To use Facebook, you must be at least 13 years old. But how can we determine the ‘appropriate age’ for young ones who want to utilize social media? Facebook deletes 20,000 kids a day – online articles scream this title.
I know quite a number of kids who own a Facebook account and they belong to what Facebook considers ‘underage’ group. They are hooked with playing games on this online social hub; they interact with their families and friends there; they post videos and photos of their favorite cartoon character; they still are ‘kids’ enjoying the advantages and the entertainment value given by Facebook. Although they lied when they entered ’15’ or ’16’ when the information form asked how old they are. Wait, lying is inappropriate. Haven’t you told them?
What Facebook prevents to happen are the unfortunate facts existing on the online world. Kids as young as your graders might be exposed to contents they should not be opened to. There are lots of online contents which are intended for adults only. They might learn of explicit language they are not supposed to know and use. Threats are not just around the corner of that dark street in your neighborhood, threats are also present in the online community.
Is Facebook right in banning kids? Maybe they can develop another Facebook for the little ones. Haha. Why not? If there are sites on the web made for the young ones, why not create a Facebook intended for kids?
Oh, I sense another downside — bad old people who are like the Big Bad Wolf will pretend to be an 8-year-old boy to do not-so-good things if Facebook for the little ones will ever exist. Now how bad could that be?