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

2,620 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)	886 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?

+62

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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

Sage Gutierrez 2012/03/05 20:40:17 (edited)

13 years old (Facebook's minimum age)

Well I'm 13 and I know not to talk to weird people. I only talk to my family and close friends. I think its totally fine for that. Some of you people are really over pretected. Just tell your kid to only add family members and their friends that they know well. No one else. Simple. also just check up on your kids page and make sure they arent talking to anyone suspicious. (on your facebook not on theres. Respect your childs privacy.)

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middleschoolgirl224 2012/03/05 20:28:31

10 - 12 years old

Got mine when i was 12, even then my mom wa the only one who knew my password until i was "old enough" to understand saftey and such. I guess its just based on maturity. There are things on Facebook not really appropriate for kids. I guess i would say no one under 12 should get one.

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mystery girl 2012/03/05 20:20:13 (edited)

10 - 12 years old

+1
I think that because I'm ten and I want a facebook. Well my mom said I have to be 12. And alot of young
ppl already know about sex and other things. I know about it because we are learning about animal sex, in the fith grade. But there could be naked sences that alot of parents don't want for there children's eyes to see. I say it's up to the parents.

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Dean Lewis to mystery... 2012/03/05 21:36:49

I accidentally raved. And wtf there is no nude tings on facebook it gets removed. and animal secks is not the same as human sex kiddo.......

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kotabear 2012/03/05 20:16:45

13 years old (Facebook's minimum age)

+2
I had a myspace when I was 11 or 12. Then when I was 13 I got a facebook. There's nothing wrong with it in my opinion. Facebook is where we can communicate with friends, and at 13, we should be able to realize that there are bad people out there. Come on.

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nvartist 2012/03/05 20:15:48

18 years old and above

Sorry kids. I just think there are so many sickos out there and I know you want to believe you can spot them, but I doubt it.

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Sage Gu... to nvartist 2012/03/05 20:42:43

+1
I'm 12 and I know all the wonders of perves and rapist. It just depends on your maturity :p

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cheaperthantherapy 2012/03/05 20:14:53

14 - 17 years old

+1
I’d say 16. It’s not so much that under-16s can’t handle the internet world; it’s just that a 12-year-old should not be able to access the inner thoughts and interests of his/her 23-year-old facebook family member/friend.

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Sage Gu... to cheaper... 2012/03/05 20:43:49

+2
and why the hell not? u people puting up that yoour horrni or something?

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Sage Gu... to Sage Gu... 2012/03/05 22:34:42

nasty azz ppl nowadays I swear

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KeithsAngel 2012/03/05 20:10:11

14 - 17 years old

My son got one this year and he's 14 but I think it has to be based on their maturity level. Just because my first child got one at 14 that doesn't mean my other two will.

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mustangluver 2012/03/05 20:04:42

14 - 17 years old

When they can do trig and calc...LOL

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TruXter 2012/03/05 20:03:27

18 years old and above

Keep pedos from lids keep kids from pedos.

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chas 2012/03/05 19:58:14

14 - 17 years old

16, King Charles has spoken

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ART 2012/03/05 19:39:18

18 years old and above

+1
NEVER, ACTUALLY!

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addie 2012/03/05 19:38:37

18 years old and above

+1
Freakin' heck, never!18 is too even young. Children are awful. Loud, self-centered, obsessed with vampire TV shows!
They are dumb enough, do they need more time doing something pointless. I wish we were one of those species that ate thier young!
Okay, maybe we should not eat them because, actually, I have known a few good ones and they would not have deserved being eaten.
50, people should not be allowed on FB until they are 50!

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cheaper... to addie 2012/03/05 20:13:13

A Modest Proposal, anyone?

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Sage Gu... to addie 2012/03/05 20:44:29

Retarded!

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addie to Sage Gu... 2012/03/06 23:26:39

What, that there are a lot of kid aimed sites for kids to communicate on and maybe it is better for them to use those instead of FB? That part? I can see disagreeing, I am not married to the idea, but I don't think it is that bad! Gee.

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Dean Lewis to addie 2012/03/05 21:40:32

Kids dont watch vampire tv shows no more. And stfu you sound like a mental dude that got onto his carers sodahead.

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addie to Dean Lewis 2012/03/06 23:34:31

Okay, I have no idea what you said, but i was not serious, I think I put in things to show that, but not enough for you or some others, I'm sorry.

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dzzshadz 2012/03/05 19:35:45

14 - 17 years old

+3
I think each parent should look at there kids maturity level first.

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addie to dzzshadz 2012/03/05 19:47:04

+1
Great point! A 16yr old can be very immature and a 14yr old might be very mature.

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dzzshadz to addie 2012/03/09 15:21:09

Exactly. Not like they are all that mature at either age. I think as an active parent in a childs life you know when they are ready.

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Mark Halfmoon 2012/03/05 19:35:11

14 - 17 years old

I don't think kids are sophisticated enough until at least 16 to navigate the open world of strangers who suddenly have access to them alone. Predators are looking for naive children to victimize and they are defenseless. Most people wouldn't allow their children to talk with numerous random anonymous strangers on the phone. Why should the Internet be different, especially with the ability for your child's picture to circulate with no boundaries.

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Raven 2012/03/05 19:34:49

13 years old (Facebook's minimum age)

SodaHead BUMPED itself

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stevmackey 2012/03/05 19:27:46

18 years old and above

+1
A lot of the material is too sensitive for a young child. Also it is not fair to adults not to know you are responding to a child. I blocked 2 youngsters when I found them to be too young.

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Dean Lewis to stevmackey 2012/03/05 21:41:36

What like cleavage? God people are too overprotective these days

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LilacsGirl Kym 2012/03/05 19:23:57

7 - 9 years old

Look, it's all about upbringing. I talk to my kids all day long, and I know what's in their heads. We're a close family. I know who their friends are, and I have the passwords to ALL their accounts, so I know what's going on. I sporadically monitor their pages, and it's a wonderful way for them to interact with their friends WITHOUT having to worry if they're okay in this crazy world. I can get to know the moms before I send my kids to other people's houses, and get a feel for their friends, before I have their kids over here, too. If you talk to your kids, you don't have to worry about what they're up to. If you leave them to their own devices ... any age can be a worry ... and the kinds of friends they can hook up with can be devastating to them. I'm a cautious mom, and I'd rather know what they're up to than leave them to go behind my back. ;)

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Aran Sm... to LilacsG... 2012/03/05 19:33:43

+1
sounds good but when they hit the 15/16 mark you may want to loosen up on the reigns like somewhere between a little and a lot,

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LilacsG... to Aran Sm... 2012/03/05 19:48:19

Oh, sure. I will admit my kids are sheltered, and I definitely have more control over my 15 (daughter) and 16 year old (son) than most parents, but so far, they don't rebel. I think this is because I give them the freedom of their own minds. I have not stuffed my opinions down their throats, but raised them with reason, with the right to question my judgment, with consideration and a LOT of rope in many other ways. I am so lucky and grateful that they are happy under my guidance ... so far. They can have a beer with dinner, or a glass of wine ... but i don't want them wandering the streets in marauding gangs of teenagers. Rather see them on FB or in a semi-supervised situation.

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Chris B... to LilacsG... 2012/03/05 21:11:30

So you let them drink underaged, i could call the cops and they would track the ip to your house.

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Dean Lewis to LilacsG... 2012/03/05 21:45:45

Passwords to all there accounts? You could let them have at least some degree of privacy.

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nycab 2012/03/05 19:22:24

18 years old and above

i just clicked this one cuz there is no button sayin "never".

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addie to nycab 2012/03/05 19:48:04

Me too! B)

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TWIIGHTbella 2012/03/05 19:07:56

10 - 12 years old

+1
I understand that kids can see inappropriate things but don't deprive them of having a social life.. If you don't allow them to have one the will resent you and feel suffocated.. I know because I feel that way and I just got one but my parents don't know

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LilacsG... to TWIIGHT... 2012/03/05 19:32:28

+1
That's exactly why I let my kids have one. Because I don't want to make them feel they have to go behind my back. I was a kid once too, and parents can be SUCH a drag! lol

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Jkm4201 to TWIIGHT... 2012/03/05 21:21:34

Can you really call Facebook a healthy social life? Real human interaction is what they need, not a digital wall of graffiti. Facebook cannot substitute real interaction which is why the adults are so stringent on when or if their children get access to Facebook at all. Teenagers hide behind Facebook to either be themselves and to not have to worry about what people think, or to hide who they are by acting like they are someone that they are not. Learning how to act and how to build self confidence in being yourself can't happen on Facebook, it takes real people in real life situations to do that. The parent's responsibility is to groom you for the day you move out and set off on your own, letting you regress into a social site on the internet is hardly going to prepare you and will probably if anything, cause you to become less willing to interact in real life which actually hurts you in the long run.

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TWIIGHT... to Jkm4201 2012/08/13 02:59:37

But either way your child will want one and wether you say yes or no I'm 85% sure they will get sick of you suffocating them and get one. Even if the are obedient or not. Sure, Facebook isn't a heathly social interaction but trust me it will feel important to your child at one point of your child's life to get one. And it will not make you less willingly to interact in real life. That is just not true.

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Miranda 2012/03/05 19:06:26

14 - 17 years old

+1
I said 14-17 because Facebook causes a lot of unneeded drama. Although my 9 year old step daughter has one, its strictly for gaming (Farmville) purposes and she doesn't know the password.I log her in and she sits in the living room while she plays so I can monitor it.

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