Facebook is considering allowing children under 13 to join its social networking site, ostensibly under their parents' supervision.
Parenting experts and some lawmakers have been quick to respond with concerns, not only about the obvious safety issues but also about pulling preteens into the complex world of social media.
"There are enormous social, cognitive and development issues that have to be considered, and Facebook has no expertise in that area," child media advocate James Steyer told USA TODAY. "And there are currently enormous privacy concerns regarding the teens who already use it and the preteens who sneak on."
The company has said it is just exploring the idea and that young children's accounts would be linked to their parents' accounts and controlled through their parents' account.
Federal law prohibits Internet companies from collecting personal information about children under 13 without their parents' consent, and some children's advocates are pushing for more stringent rules in that area. So, the Facebook proposal raises many issues about how privacy would be maintained and what information about children should be readily available on the Internet.
But with all the cyber bullying and stalking issues today, it is equally important to understand the pros and cons of young children interacting with other children, teens and adults on Facebook at all.
Children will always want the things that teenagers have, from cellphones and cigarettes to rap CDs and R-rated movies.
But that doesn't mean it is a good idea.
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