Kids on Facebook

Adam Roberts at the Nelson Mail reports:

Nelson children as young as 8 are faking their way into social media sites by using a second date of birth that puts them above the services’ age restrictions, an internet safety expert says.

Nelson-based internet safety and risk assessment consultant John Parsons said he had recently spoken to a number of young pupils at schools around the region, and what he had heard had shocked him.

In a survey of 100 children aged 8, 9 and 10, 66 had admitted to having a Facebook account, with an average of 320 friends.

Mr Parsons said parents were raising a generation of children with two dates of birth.

They had their real one “when they get presents”, and another that they created to gain entry to social networks like Facebook, which requires users to be 13 and over.

Often their stated date of birth on such networks gave them an age in their 20s.

“They have an intimate connection with their fake one as well, they know their age online.

“It’s a strange thing to see 8 and 9-year-olds quote that age back to you quite seamlessly.”

Allowing children to lie their way into social networks did not send the right message, and was akin to teenagers using a fake ID to enter a local bar.

The solution to stopping kids fake their age to use Facebook is to lower the age barrier from 13. That way no fake age needed, and you could have some additional safety and privacy features wrapped around younger users.

One of my mate’s daughters isn’t yet 10 but is 22 on Facebook. She has 105 friends.  More disturbingly she “likes” Southpark – an influence I blame her Father for!