Parents ... would you knowingly allow your 13 or 14 year old child to create their own myspace or hi5 page?

Question

I am researching parents opinions on the topic so please be sure to be honest in your reply and most importantly please explain your answer why?

Answer 1

My eleven yo has a blog, but not myspace or hi5. If he wanted one, we'd talk about why, what he wants and some of the safety features, and you can bet I'd be on there daily checking with him. He doesn't really care right now, though he's on several forums for video games and unschoolers.

You can try to keep kids off of that, but honestly, how can you ensure it? Will they resent it and sneak behind your back? They all have free time at school in the comp lab, they go to friends houses, and even in their own house, how would you know if they set one up, esp those parents who leave their kids at home alone til they're home from work?

I'd rather him have one that I know about, that he feels safe sharing information with me (God, how would you feel knowing you forbid it and some perv was sextalking your teen? They couldn't/wouldn't even tell you for fear of being in trouble)

Answer 2

I work well Own a website company so I know some things about myspace that almost everyone doesnt know. Myspace can be Fun but very dangerous. Most internet murders have something to do with Myspace , i would just stay away from there or make sure your acount is private and only add friends you know. Listen to your parents... They know what there talking about. I would be more then happy to talk to them just send me an email [e-mail] and I can give you some good tips.

Answer 3

Technically you are supposed to be 14 to have a MySpace page, but if my daughter was 14 then yes, I would let her have one, but I would make sure that she had certain privacy settings. MySpace allows users to set their profile to private- only those that they choose to add to their friends list can see their full profile. There is also a setting which allows only users who know your real first and last name to send you a friend invite. I would also make sure that in spite of the provicay settings, that she kept certain identifying information off her page (for example, her last name, address, etc). There are ways to use these sites safely, you just have to exercise common sense. If used responsibly, I think MySpace is a great way to stay in touch with friends.

Answer 4

My daughter is 11, and at this time, she is not allowed to roam unsupervised online.
Maybe at 13 or 14, but I would have to see it myself. Based on second-hand information, I think myspace is a bit too mature in content for this age.
Assuming I found it acceptable, supervision would still be necessary. I'm going to at least have some idea of who my girl is communicating with, and if I don't approve, it will stop.
So I'm a Mean Mom. But I'm a Mean Mom who's kid is safe.

Answer 5

I let my kids have a myspace account (13, 14, & 15 yrs) But their accounts are listed as private and I know all of their passwords and I look at their accounts two or three times every week. I also know their email passwords and have been known to answer emails from their friends posing as my child. My kids know that if I see anything that is not appropiate they will lose their accounts. good luck

Answer 6

I would steer away from it. They are not good places for young people. If they insist, I would at least look into why. I would not let him have a public site. (I use my Myspace for keeping in touch with my family) I would also supervise anything that they put on and that other put on the site. If you can supervise when they are on the site. Make sure that you get the password and check the site every couple of days without them knowing. That way you can monitor the site without inhibiting their "parent radar". And you can see all that goes on and if you don't approve restrict computer access.

Answer 7

As long as they are smart.

That is coming from a person of 14 years.

My parents say that as long as you are smart, and dont do anything stupid (like talk to people you dont know in real life) its fine.

My mom says I am a "level-headed, mature, person and that MySpace is posing no risk" for me. I completely agree with her. It isnt what people make it out to be.

Answer 8

ok this is a tricky one

my mom told me i couldnt have one so liek most teens i went behing her back and made one
little did hse know i had had one for over a year btu i had never put stuff on it
i added stuff and later that night my sister blabbed and i was told to delete my account

i didnt and left it there for a while
and when it all settled donw i started goin on again
then my dad found out
he was furious
he was lik delete it delete it
and i coudlnt under stand why

i nicely explained to him how i use it to communitcat with my friends and i told him to chekc my website

he finally agreed to let me but he told me one hting i will never forget

dont post anythign on there you wouldnt want your paretns or grandparents seeing.

and i had to keep my account private and only acsept people i know

this is currently wokrign out for my family

im 13 and my sister is 12 and she also has a myspace

my mom dosnt monitor my account but i know she could anytime she wanted to but i know a lot of my friends parents monitor my account and im pretty sure some of my older cousins monitor my account

i hope this helps....

Answer 9

No I would not,have you read some of the foul language on that site? I want to protect my child not throw them to the wolfs,by the way this is a really good question to ask!!!

Answer 10

yes and no... no because it can be dangerous... but yes because if they really want one they can get one behind your back... but if you let them you have to make sure you supervise them.. there are ways that you can block certain things that other people can and can not see.. yes there is foul language there but isn't there also foul language in school??? TV???? so even though you try to protect them from that they will be exposed by it no matter where you go