What's an Appropriate Age for a Child to Get Their Own Facebook Page?

by SodaHead Living Posted 2012/03/02 19:00:00

Related Topics: Facebook, Lifestyle, Addiction, Infographic, Divorce, School, Opinion, State, Digital, Internet, Lawyer

2,621 votes
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	7 - 9 years old	137 votes	5%
	10 - 12 years old	378 votes	14%
	13 years old (Facebook's minimum age)	887 votes	34%
	14 - 17 years old	749 votes	29%
	18 years old and above	470 votes	18%

We've talked about Facebook leading to break-ups (divorce lawyers say it does), we've talked about the new Facebook timeline (most people don't like the updated look), heck...we've even talked about how the majority of you feel addicted to the Internet (61 percent and counting.) But now it's time to talk about Facebook... and age appropriateness.

With ever-evolving features and layouts, Facebook continues to have a big impact on how people interact in the digital world they've created for themselves -- but how soon is too soon? Once you open a Facebook account, it's official: you've started the process of leaving a digital footprint in the world -- for anyone to discover. Is that something a kid in elementary school is ready for? Or do you think Facebook is more of a harmless pastime for someone of any age group to enjoy? That's for you to decide. What do you think is an appropriate age for someone to get a Facebook account?

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Awwmandawashere 2012/03/02 19:37:37 (edited)

13 years old (Facebook's minimum age)

+16
Parents shouldn't let their children have Facebooks until they are old enough. My mom made me wait until I was old enough to make one but you see on facebook 7 year olds that's a perfect way for a pedophile to get his hands on your children. They need to be mature enough to understand the dangers that are on the internet. I actually didn't make one until I was a Freshmen in high school. I mean Facebook isn't all that great to begin with why do we need little children on social media sites?
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More polls by SodaHead Living

ryan.noh1 to ryan.noh1 2012/03/02 20:17:47

+1
And remember Facebook itself doesn't CARE. They only care so much as where they might get sued, but the more people on facebook, the more money they make, they don't care what goes on between members unless it comes back to them legally.

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watts.kyle to ryan.noh1 2012/03/02 20:45:02

...Yes it is. im 12,and i am still alive. SEE DIS??? DIS IS PROOF!!! XD

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Osk The... to watts.kyle 2012/03/05 17:54:31

+1
Learn to write proper grammar

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iluvcameronkennedy4ever 2012/03/02 20:04:18

13 years old (Facebook's minimum age)

13, Thats how old you should be..there are a lot of weordos in the world..predators..predators of children. maube younger if the block their profile to only their frends. im turning 12 in may and i dont have one.

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ryan.noh1 to iluvcam... 2012/03/02 20:15:30

+1
Predators go after 13 yr olds, love teenagers of 14 and 15 years or age, you are very much still not safe. Besides, don't your friends know what you look like already? :P
I don't want to go into a tirade about the methods I've read about, they go anywhere they can find any sort of pictures of children, it's really unsettling when you think about.
When I was your age and we just go the internet, I would go to chat rooms and they'd be in every one, trying to proposition for an inappropriate chat, it was disgusting.
These days they use much more subtle tactics, by making kids think they are also kids and slowly "grooming" them into trust.

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watts.kyle 2012/03/02 20:03:57

13 years old (Facebook's minimum age)

I'm 12,and have my own fb page because i felt like getting one.XD

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Todd's Love 2012/03/02 20:03:52 (edited)

14 - 17 years old

+1
13 yrs is still young enough 2 b naive w/ predators... even hardly 14 is safe

this girl was 18!!!!! (edit :dang vid wont show) lawl

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watts.kyle to Todd's ... 2012/03/02 20:43:21

...WRONG!!!

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Todd's ... to watts.kyle 2012/03/02 20:47:23

yes...u are ... :P

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watts.kyle to Todd's ... 2012/03/04 20:27:00

f*ck you.

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Todd's ... to watts.kyle 2012/03/05 17:54:33

haha no thnx man... i dont bend that way BUT
XD

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Rebecca 2012/03/02 19:52:14

18 years old and above

+1
I'm not even sure I'm an appropriate age...

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watts.kyle to Rebecca 2012/03/02 20:06:20

EHHHH! WRONG!!! 13 is fb's max. 18 would be just...stupid.

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watts.kyle to watts.kyle 2012/03/02 20:06:40

Min,sorry.not max.wtf am i saying.XD

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Todd's ... to watts.kyle 2012/03/02 20:22:57

ummm most ppl in fb are over 18.... srsly... they even use it 4 businesse.s..look it up

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watts.kyle to Todd's ... 2012/03/02 20:38:01

i KNOW they use it for bussinesses and such.

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Todd's ... to watts.kyle 2012/03/02 20:47:40

so then tis not stupid

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Todd's ... to watts.kyle 2012/03/02 20:23:04

not stupid at all

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watts.kyle to Todd's ... 2012/03/02 20:38:56

Definately stupid. 18 is just over the top.trust me.fb isn't that bad at all.

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Todd's ... to watts.kyle 2012/03/02 20:48:42

i know i have 1 & im under 18 BUT we r not talking 4 ourselves im tlking about naive ppl out there... lawl 13 is stupid cuz kids need 2 b out playing sports & crap... not sitting online all day.... itll prolly happein in their future anyways

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smitty to Todd's ... 2012/03/02 20:54:15

Dang son. I actually agree with you on something. I think it is the end of times.

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Todd's ... to smitty 2012/03/02 21:51:55

i bet we agree on a lot of thngs just not that 1 thing

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smitty to Todd's ... 2012/03/02 22:09:05

Nah.. I wouldn't go that far... yet.

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watts.kyle to Todd's ... 2012/03/04 20:28:01

...Type nicely.Don't be lazy and make short-cuts like that.

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Todd's ... to watts.kyle 2012/03/05 17:55:43

actually, u placed the period 2 close 2 the next sentence...thats bad grammar man.... not that i care.....but if u r going to lecture sum1 on spelling.... u gotta do it mad ...angry dude...

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Rebecca to watts.kyle 2012/03/02 22:24:48

You mean minimum, right? 13 is way too young and I still think 18 is pushing it. Lots of creeps prey on kids with facebook.

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Todd's ... to Rebecca 2012/03/02 20:22:24

lawl i feel the same way!! XD

ppl can b sooo creepy .... even adults u look up 2 !!!! :O

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watts.kyle to Rebecca 2012/03/02 20:43:05

...13 is the min.

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[Katsu]™ 2012/03/02 19:40:58

13 years old (Facebook's minimum age)

Well, obviously. It is the age minimum for a reason.

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Awwmandawashere 2012/03/02 19:37:37 (edited)

13 years old (Facebook's minimum age)

+16
Parents shouldn't let their children have Facebooks until they are old enough. My mom made me wait until I was old enough to make one but you see on facebook 7 year olds that's a perfect way for a pedophile to get his hands on your children. They need to be mature enough to understand the dangers that are on the internet. I actually didn't make one until I was a Freshmen in high school. I mean Facebook isn't all that great to begin with why do we need little children on social media sites?

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iluvcam... to Awwmand... 2012/03/02 20:06:35

+3
barely any1 even likes fb my friend deleted his cus it was boring him. my other frend only wants one to play the games on there :)

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Awwmand... to iluvcam... 2012/03/02 20:12:21

+2
I only go on Facebook to talk to my friends that I don't see anymore and to talk to my family other than that I don't really go on Facebook lol :)

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Lovatic135 to Awwmand... 2012/03/02 21:53:53

+2
That's just like this site. There are WAY to many immature children, heck even adults for that matter, on here. xD

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Awwmand... to Lovatic135 2012/03/03 02:25:27

+4
I totally agree, some people are like trees, they take forever to grow up lol:D

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miskitt... to Awwmand... 2012/03/03 03:32:02

+1
i agree :) you really need to wait tell they are ready,no 7 year old should have a facebook enless they have the brain of a 14 year old :p (although iv even seen girls/boys my age or even older doing things that just want to make you face palm).

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Awwmand... to miskitt... 2012/03/04 18:10:38

Lol I agree we do have children that have iq's out of this world but I doubt all 7 years olds are that smart lol

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Jimmeh to Awwmand... 2012/03/04 08:27:32

eh... It's not that there's "danger" on the internet (it's statistically insignificant, though there's still the chance of getting a virus or accidentally getting a random monthly cell phone charge for ring tones), so much as that the internet is a really terrible place without a minimum age. Children who can't speak in understandable English, have ridiculous tempers, or an incredible fondness for trolling, just make life unbearable when trying to enjoy some gaming, chatting, whatever.

As long as they're clear that they have to sound half-reasonable and not give out personal info, a 7 year old is fine with me. Though that's highly unlikely. Maybe 10-ish.

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Awwmand... to Jimmeh 2012/03/04 18:19:00

Children's brains don't stop developing until they are 25 years old but they are not mature enough, not saying that teenagres are fully mature, but mature enough to understand about the internet until they are in their teen years. Most children look at a pic of someone online and believe that is actually them. Pedophiles can show them a pic of a cute boy and have them think they are the same age as them and gain their trust and do something horrible to them. Why do you think they are so many sex offenders in the world? You don't hear about a lot of sex offenders hurting older women, not that I'm saying that they don't, it is young children they target because they are not fully developed yet and they are naive. I know if I have kids I will not let them have a facebook or anything of that sort until they are old enough and mature enough.

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Jimmeh to Awwmand... 2012/03/31 02:23:35

Whether or not the children are naive is up to the parents, isn't it? It honestly shouldn't be difficult to embed some caution into your children. A 7 year old should at least understand the concept of people doing bad things.

I won't say that that applies to all children, because as I said, it depends on how they're raised. However, I'm certain that crimes against children, that involve the internet, are insignificant (that is, incredibly rare) compared to the number of crimes that happens on a daily basis.

I'm hopeful that parents will get to know their children better and have them be open enough that they'll know if something's amiss, and be able to teach them when they inevitably make mistakes. It's a simple ideal, but unfortunately it still seems out of reach...

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Awwmand... to Jimmeh 2012/04/22 16:44:38

I understand your point of view but there are so many flaws in it lol It doesn't matter how much a parent trusts their child or their child trusts their parent to tell them things. Children are suppose to have fun and go outside and enjoy their childhood not sit in a chair and be obsessed with a social media site. Children are more likely not to tell a parent what is going on because they are afraid of getting in trouble or that their parent will judge them even if they do have a solid relationship with their parent. There are reasons that there are age limits on everything like alcohol, cigarettes, movies ect. and for a parent to think it is okay for a kid to lie about their age is just wrong. Why are they in such a rush to put their child in danger? I am not even a parent and I am concerned. I am kinda shock that you don't feel the same way. Children's brains are not fully developed yet and they can't figure out things the same way an adult can. Heck teenagers brain's are not ever fully developed yet. Teenagers are one of the worst offenders of making bad decisions just like a child would. What would make a child any better than a teenager? Nothing. Why do you think so many teenagers do stupid things becuase the part of the brain that tells them "hey this might be dangerous,...

I understand your point of view but there are so many flaws in it lol It doesn't matter how much a parent trusts their child or their child trusts their parent to tell them things. Children are suppose to have fun and go outside and enjoy their childhood not sit in a chair and be obsessed with a social media site. Children are more likely not to tell a parent what is going on because they are afraid of getting in trouble or that their parent will judge them even if they do have a solid relationship with their parent. There are reasons that there are age limits on everything like alcohol, cigarettes, movies ect. and for a parent to think it is okay for a kid to lie about their age is just wrong. Why are they in such a rush to put their child in danger? I am not even a parent and I am concerned. I am kinda shock that you don't feel the same way. Children's brains are not fully developed yet and they can't figure out things the same way an adult can. Heck teenagers brain's are not ever fully developed yet. Teenagers are one of the worst offenders of making bad decisions just like a child would. What would make a child any better than a teenager? Nothing. Why do you think so many teenagers do stupid things becuase the part of the brain that tells them "hey this might be dangerous, you need to think of the consequences" is not fully developed so they are more likely to do risky behavior. I do agree that parents should be open with their children and let their children know that they can talk to them but that is just not how children's or teenagers brain's work.
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