A recent survey by Consumer Reports showed that Facebook has a bit of a problem with restrictions age control. The social networking site is technically limited to people 13 years or more, a rule that has not prevented 7.5 million users to sign minor. Facebook, like many age restricted sites based on user honesty, something relatively short supply on the internet.
Why does this matter? Facebook is a great waste of time; as the report points out, it is also a breeding ground for computer viruses, an information market for identity thieves, and a playground for the persecutors. More than 5 million computers have been affected by the virus linked Facebook and 1 million children were victims of cyberbullying.
According to the study, many parents just do not care. But they should. The Internet is great, but it can be frightening and dangerous too. We recounted the many iterations of Facebook privacy controls that are turbid and cons-intuitive, even paranoid adults and computer savvy. A child can be smart enough to lie about her age, but is probably not conscious enough to understand the dangers of oversharing personal information.
While Facebook is working on the problem, mostly in the form of parenting, parents who care can play a more active role in keeping their children and their computers safe. Parental control software can help monitor the online behavior, including social networking. Internet security software helps keep computers against viruses and other malware that can compromise the security of a family. Finally, parents should consider investing in identity theft protection that can keep them and the financial future of their families safe from criminals both online and off.