Call to ban children from Facebook

TrevorW · #1 10-02-2011, 10:57 AM

Agree or disagree

multiweb (Marc) · #2 10-02-2011, 11:11 AM

Question: how?

casstony · #3 10-02-2011, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by multiweb

Question: how?

Easy: parents don't allow access and there are no electronic communication devices (or TV) in the bedroom. Apart from the associated dangers, the last thing kids need is another excuse to avoid physically active recreation, or work around the house.

The school my boy goes to has an internet club only available to students at the school - it's supervised and any inappropriate behaviour is quickly squashed but the kids still get to communicate on the net.

multiweb (Marc) · #4 10-02-2011, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casstony

Easy: parents don't allow access and there are no electronic communication devices (or TV) in the bedroom. Apart from the associated dangers, the last thing kids need is another excuse to avoid physically active recreation, or work around the house.

Good luck with that.

If they don't login at home they'll login from their mate's place or from any portable device. Some even come bundled with FB accounts. Prevention is not possible. Talk with them so they understand the risks and term of use, educate them and they'll work it out for themselves.

wavelandscott (Scott) · #5 10-02-2011, 11:32 AM

Should define "children"...

I said agree but I reckon the cut off should be lower than the drinking age (a smudge)

AstralTraveller (David) · #6 10-02-2011, 11:40 AM

Perhaps a bit off topic but the discussion does remind me of this.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2...10/3134682.htm

In this case all the teenagers learnt some valuable lessons and perhaps the fact that the boy was caught prevented him committing a bigger crime. Further to Marc's comment, I know I did things on public phones I wouldn't have done at home (nothing serious - phone information and ask how many bolts in the Sydney Harbour Bridge) so the issue of prevention is relevant. Perhaps this is just an old conundrum with new technology?

mswhin63 (Malcolm) · #7 10-02-2011, 11:47 AM

Yeah good luck with it especially when many parents are hooked on it.

casstony · #8 10-02-2011, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by multiweb

Good luck with that. Prevention is not possible. Talk with them so they understand the risks and term of use, educate them and they'll work it out for themselves.

We do educate our kids and the schools educate them on this topic. Prevention is possible and the rules I outlined earlier are in force at our home. We're very selective about where our kids stay overnight though they will occasionally see or hear inapropriate stuff (they need to be aware of the real world anyway). When they abuse freedoms they lose privileges and have to earn them back.

A big part of the package is providing the kids with healthy alternatives (Tae Kwon Do, swimming, team sport, singing, playing musical instruments, socialising with other families and their kids, etc) and shared family time playing board games, gardening, watching TV together, etc, and especially having the evening meal together.

There's always an element of luck in successfully raising kids but there's a lot parent's can do to avoid problems, including internet related problems.

mswhin63 (Malcolm) · #9 10-02-2011, 11:56 AM

Sometime avoiding issues can prevent the children learning from their mistake. I generally don't wrap them up in cotton wool but the internet is so uncontrolled that is needs some parental regulation. I use time control software to limit access as well as limit content mostly pornography, Unfortunately that is not entirely functional. (Norton) and (Makuamon)

casstony · #10 10-02-2011, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mswhin63

Sometime avoiding issues can prevent the children learning from their mistake. )

Absolutely, they mostly learn the hard way, but they also thrive on having well defined but reasonable boundaries. They push until they find the boundary of acceptable behaviour; if the parents have not set a clear boundary the childs behaviour will become more challenging; if the parents set no boundary at all the kids are in great danger.

mswhin63 (Malcolm) · #11 10-02-2011, 12:21 PM

Sometime though we still need to set some limits, especially when the limits are breached in what could be considered illegally. This is Facebook in some cases. The legal system is in a shambles so now we have to self regulate, that would be my only consideration to see Facebook banned for children.

multiweb (Marc) · #12 10-02-2011, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by casstony

A big part of the package is providing the kids with healthy alternatives (Tae Kwon Do, swimming, team sport, singing, playing musical instruments, socialising with other families and their kids, etc) and shared family time playing board games, gardening, watching TV together, etc, and especially having the evening meal together.

There's always an element of luck in successfully raising kids but there's a lot parent's can do to avoid problems, including internet related problems.

I second that. I always kept both mine very busy with sports and outdoor activities. A lot of kids these days, maybe more teens I reckon, spend a hell lot more time in front of a PC or online than they should. Family tight and knowing what they're at and involving them is also the way to go, so they don't get bored and get up to no good.

The problem with online socialising is the lack of identity and responsibility. That in turn opens a whole new bag of troubling behaviours. It's just the nature of the medium that allows some individuals to get away with murder sort of speak.

At my kids schools some kids email or MSN each other 'hate' mails. In the old days it would have been a couple of slaps in the courtyard. The internet changed that.

Barrykgerdes · #13 10-02-2011, 01:23 PM

I got a better idea

Face book is valued in billions. Lets pass some laws that make Facebook liable for anything detrimental to anyone that uses it and have damages assessed against it. It would not need to be banned then because it would disappear as quick as money sent to Nigeria.

Barry

Zaps · #14 10-02-2011, 01:42 PM

What's "facebook"?

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #15 10-02-2011, 02:20 PM

My eldest daughter (25) isn't interested in Facebook, my 2nd daughter (20) uses it probably twice a week, my eldest son (18) doesn't like it and my youngest son (15) uses it but sparingly. He did say a few days ago that Facebook is boring.

What more could I ask

I don't like it even though I have an account. Cheryl uses it occasionally.
So, we aren't a big 'Facebook' family.

Ban the whole concept

star1961 (Lisa) · #16 10-02-2011, 02:29 PM

my son has been waking up at 5am to go on facebook. so now ive banned him from the computer completely for three days. including the ipod. its torture for him but funnily enough after only about an hour not having the computer he was out the back hitting the ball with the tennis racket! i couldnt believe it! he does swim in the pool occasionally but apart from that no excercise at all. so now i'm determined to cut back their internet times.

ballaratdragons (Ken) · #17 10-02-2011, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by star1961

my son has been waking up at 5am to go on facebook. so now ive banned him from the computer completely for three days. including the ipod. its torture for him but funnily enough after only about an hour not having the computer he was out the back hitting the ball with the tennis racket! i couldnt believe it! he does swim in the pool occasionally but apart from that no excercise at all. so now i'm determined to cut back their internet times.

Well done.

It may seem cruel but cut kids way back.
My 2 boys are restricted to half an hour of computer time each night.
They are fine with that because they are so used to it.
They get Computer time at school too, but it is strictly monitored by the IT teacher.
My boys enjoy going outside so that might be the difference. They are 'country' kids.

that_guy (Tony) · #18 10-02-2011, 04:42 PM

define children...

Trixie (Carey) · #19 10-02-2011, 04:45 PM

My 13 yo cousin is on facebook but his mum, older brothers and all of us cousins are all his friends on it and his family computer is in the living room so he has quite a bit of supervision. Judging by the times he posts it also looks like he has limited amounts of time he is allowed on the computer.

I think banning it would only make it more attractive. My parents banned home and away and neighbours for my sisters and I and we went to great lengths to get around the ban. If they had left us alone we probably wouldnt have watched it!

I like the way my aunt and uncle are doing things. My boys are too young to be interested in computers yet but when they do they will have to use a shared computer in our office so will always be under supervision.

Dave47tuc (David) · #20 10-02-2011, 04:47 PM

I don't think children should be banned from face book. Tell them they can not use something there friends use.
My 3 children 11,15,17 with my daughter being the eldest.

I'm having trouble keeping up with what my children do with there lap top or phones and ipods.

My daughter has had trouble with face book and bulling and without going into much detail it was a bad time for all concerned. I have been involved with councillors and had meetings with the high school about this.

You can not ban anyone from face book (by the way i don't use it or like it!)
Its all about education and respect for people. But its so easy for someone to type hurtful things about someone else. The main problem they do this on a whim! Their have had a bad day or feel in a bad mood then they can take it out on someone on something like face book.

Its about educating children the right and wrongs in life and knowing what they type has consequences.

I prefer not to ban or take away but to educate.