Is Facebook For Kids?

A few months ago I posted a few things about what is right and wrong on child photography. What prompted me to write something like that is a photo I saw on my Facebook stream.  A little girl, sleeping with her legs wide spread. There is nothing wrong with that? Maybe, but not for me.

Now, what prompted me to write about Kids and Online reputation is the fact that my two boys are now into social networking. But before that, let me just say that I was always against kids having their own Facebook account. Though it does not show that much, I am but a very conservative person and very traditional. I just don’t think social networking is for kids. But what can I do? Their friends are on Facebook, they communicate with their teachers on Facebook, they share photos and what not on Facebook. So with a heavy heart I created their Facebook account and set my rules:

Rule number 1, they can only open their Facebook account with my consent and that as much as possible no Facebooking on school days.

Rule number 2, I have full control over their Facebook account, their log in details and I will have to approve their FB friends and will delete anyone that we do not know.

Rule number 3, I will delete their Facebook account if I think I need to or when they are being hard headed.

It does not end with my rules, I also have to manage their online reputation. And when it comes to handling their reputation, I have a set of simple guidelines:

• Ask mommy before you click.
• Ask mommy before you post.
• Ask mommy before you upload.
• Ask mommy first before anything else.

It is hard not to worry about our kids safety and reputation whenever they sit in front of the computer but I think with our close supervision, internet and our kids can be really good friends.