Opinions please.... at what age do you think it's okay to allow your children on something like Facebook?

My ex has put the boys on and much as i love being able to talk to them that way, I'm concerned at what they may see written by other folk. It also means I have to watch what I say, and how I say it. Whilst I can control what I say (when I remember!), I cannot control what others put on theirs.

I'm in a bit of a dilemma over it all
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"Always look on the bright side of life..... tetum tetumtetumtetum....."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHPOzQzk9Qo

To be honest Red, as long as they can have access to the internet without parental control/an adult watching over their shoulder, I would have thought Facebook was the least of your worries on the internet.
From my own experience, my son had no access to the internet so we thought (lives with his internet-less dad) but age 13 he later told me he had his own page on Bebo at a friend's house and some pervert man became his online 'friend' masquerading as a 14 yrs old girl.
It was all very worrying.
The worst of it was the silly chump had his full name, address (right down to the post code, he's a stickler for correctness!) and his mobile phone number, date of birth, photos of his whole family, the chuffing lot for all to see!

I would say if its possible if they are very young when they go on facebook that an adult supervises them so they dont stray from their own or your page.

When my sons were 12 and 16 with all the will in the world trying to be Nanny, we still found playboy under their bed, tobacco in trouser pockets, etc. etc.
It's bloody hard protecting our kids from growing up too fast eh?!!

Personally I've no idea, it is supposedly good for teenager's development though, although I'm slightly sceptical.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/7740895.stm
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My boys are 8 and 10 I would imagine that their dad is around when they're on, but even so, I've only to read through what gets written on my own page by friends to be a bit concerned. I don't think at 8 my youngest should be reading even swearing never mind about what someone (Heidi!! )wants to do with her rabbit

It was kinda funny being told off by my 10 year old for using naughty words, but at the same time, I feel a little piqued that I need to watch what I say. Ah well, small price I guess if it means I get to talk to them more often.
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"Always look on the bright side of life..... tetum tetumtetumtetum....."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHPOzQzk9Qo

I think it's nigh on impossible to prevent them seeing all undesirable things on line or unsavory characters. You just need to educate them as best you can and get them to adopt some of the privacy safeguards, make them aware of scams and so on.
I get to know what's going on with the youngsters 'via facebook, but as you say, they've also got access to your world too.

How's this then, I've just got my ex hubby as a facebook friend, not that I particularly wanted him there but he needed a secret way to message me about family business and he knew I was on facebook. It was only afterwards, I realised he can tune in to my web life from now on... although, I don't suppose he'd be interested really, but it still feels a bit inhibiting.
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http://arisingmoon.deviantart.com/gallery/
http://myriad28.spaces.live.com
www.myspace.com/arisingmoon
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=587677759

I've not been on there and don't want to so it may not work like this, but couldn't you set up a second facebook account just for talking to them on?
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Your only allowed one account per email but it only takes 5 minutes to setup a gmail account anyway.

Tony says tell them the ground rules and the pitfalls. Will they understand and act on it?

Becky says, Ben has a Bebo and Facebook page and i know he's 14 but seeing as we've had the internet since he was 9 i've always explained the do's and don't's to him and he has always been sensible.

Bliss says: How you two doin? (on the Joey tone/style) LOL
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www.lizmadsen.com

I don't think Facebook is any kind of real danger to them *as long as* they're taught about keeping their personal details secure and not meeting people.

Sure they will see all kind of unpleasant adult things going on but this kind of thing crops up all over the internet, not just on Facebook.

Hell, picking up a discarded tabloid and reading it would expose them to the same kind of thing.

Look on the positive side, you can be a role-model for them on-line and check their user-generated content as easily as they can check yours. Encourage the best use of the place by your own actions.

Lol brings back memories when me and my mate went on his dads computer looking at porn

We musta been like 12, if not younger

Oh vtwinster make me feel old why dontcha?
When I was 12 the only computer invented was a wooden abacus!