Facebook for a 9 yr old?

[raysnkaysmom]

Ok...I dont' want to get beat up...I'm just not sure it's a bad thing...

I didnt 'let my daughter get a myspace or facebook until after she turned 13 and was on Honor Roll. I have her passwords and monitor her.
I think Facebook is better because I'm able to see more of whats going on. My daughter is almost 9 (couple weeks) and wants one too. If I just allow her school friends and our family as her friends and keep it private, do you think it's such a bad thing? Sometimes I see things on there I know she'd love or laugh at, so as long as I'm monitoring it...I dont think it's so bad anymore....

 

[swald91]

Don't you have to be 13 for account there? My daughter wants one & all of her friends already have one-some lied about their age -some b/c she has a fall b-day & they turned 13 already. I will let her when she's 13-& I will monitor it as well. I think 9 may be a bit too young-just my opinion though.

 

[MushyMushy]

For my kids, it was a big fat no. And when they did turn 13, I make sure to monitor what they are doing very heavily.

 

[Buckalew11]

Here is my opinion:
You made your other DD wait til she was 13 and on honor roll. This one should wait for that time also. I think it is the fair thing to do. Esp. for your older DD. While there was no facebook when she was 9 (or not that we knew off like it is today), it still wouldn't be fair if you allowed the younger one to get it. PLUS, I think you are supposed to be 13 or 14 to have, aren't you?

You are going to do what you are going to do but I think you should wait. I'm the youngest of 3 girls and I had to wait for somethings and not for others. I am sure it bothered my sister when she had to wait (ears pierced for example) and while I had to wait awhile, they still did not make me wait as long as they did her. Kids remember these types of things.
Waiting for something is almost a "lost art" these days. Kids don't wait for much. Let this be something she looks forward to. If they get everything they want by age 10, what's there to look forward to? Just my opinion, which isn't worth much, but I felt the need to give.

 

[HunnyPots]

In my opinion, no 9 year old needs a "social network". They should be outside running, jumping, climbing trees, building forts, and getting dirty! Please encourage kids to do "kid stuff" while they are still kids - it goes by so fast!

 

[raysnkaysmom]

In my opinion, no 9 year old needs a "social network". They should be outside running, jumping, climbing trees, building forts, and getting dirty! Please encourage kids to do "kid stuff" while they are still kids - it goes by so fast!

 

[JerseyMamaBear]

no, still too young. my son is 13 and I still do not allow those networking sites yet.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Here is my opinion:
You made your other DD wait til she was 13 and on honor roll. This one should wait for that time also. I think it is the fair thing to do. Esp. for your older DD. While there was no facebook when she was 9 (or not that we knew off like it is today), it still wouldn't be fair if you allowed the younger one to get it. PLUS, I think you are supposed to be 13 or 14 to have, aren't you?

You are going to do what you are going to do but I think you should wait. I'm the youngest of 3 girls and I had to wait for somethings and not for others. I am sure it bothered my sister when she had to wait (ears pierced for example) and while I had to wait awhile, they still did not make me wait as long as they did her. Kids remember these types of things.
Waiting for something is almost a "lost art" these days. Kids don't wait for much. Let this be something she looks forward to. If they get everything they want by age 10, what's there to look forward to? Just my opinion, which isn't worth much, but I felt the need to give.

I truly dont know what I'm going to do..thats why I didnt' even vote in my own poll...lol
But, what you have said, and others makes sense that I'm leaning to the "No" side. You are right about 'waiting being a lost art'...

 

[BeachGirlFLA]

I would make her wait for - and look forward to - it.

 

[Buckalew11]

Well, good. I didn't mean that to be negative sounding. I meant that you would do whatever your head and heart tells you you are going to do in the end---what I think would make little difference. But maybe you really are seeking opinions on this and will take people's thoughts in and mull them over. Good for you.

See, you are the one that has a 9yo asking, "please mom, please." and I am not hearing a sweet little voice asking "please". I'm just easily answering a question with what I really, really think.

When my dd wanted an American Girl doll, I made her wait til she could read the books on her own. She had a Bitty baby doll to play with so she wasn't neglected or anything. I just wanted her to have it to look forward to etc. and she really did.

She was so excited when those catalogs would come. She'd circle the doll she liked, pick out outfits for her etc. She was dreaming about getting that doll. And working hard too. She worked at her reading skills to get that doll and was so proud when she did. I think the waiting and dreaming of was part of the fun for her. (Kinda like waiting and planning for a WDW trip )

Anyway, good luck. My DD was 14 when she got FB and I still monitor it.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

Well, good. I didn't mean that to be negative sounding. I meant that you would do whatever your head and heart tells you you are going to do in the end---what I think would make little difference. But maybe you really are seeking opinions on this and will take people's thoughts in and mull them over. Good for you.


I think the waiting and dreaming of was part of the fun for her. (Kinda like waiting and planning for a WDW trip )

Anyway, good luck. My DD was 14 when she got FB and I still monitor it.

lol..yeah..I know it's hard to believe here on the DIS people really do seek opinions and have an open mind to responses... but thats me lol

and..I agree about the WDW planning is half the fun!! I'm hoping we can find something else to keep her interest until I make the best decision... It wont be soon I can tell!!..

 

[LUCiD]

I, personally, don't think it's such a good thing for a nine year old to get into.
However, if you do let your daughter have a facebook account, you should sit down with her and have a nice long chat about the dangers of the internet. ( You know, like stalkers and stuff.)

 

[MariDisney]

My DD is 9 and has one under an assumed name. I have her password, of course. She only friends aunts, uncles, etc. She plays games with the pets and stuff.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

I, personally, don't think it's such a good thing for a nine year old to get into.
However, if you do let your daughter have a facebook account, you should sit down with her and have a nice long chat about the dangers of the internet. ( You know, like stalkers and stuff.)

oh...we had that talk when she joined Club Penquin!! LOL.. And...her and her sister play on youtube alot..so we've talked. But..if/when I do decide to let her have a facebook (it wont be myspace), we will definitely go over it in more detail then!

 

[raysnkaysmom]

My DD is 9 and has one under an assumed name. I have her password, of course. She only friends aunts, uncles, etc. She plays games with the pets and stuff.

thats what I was thinking...she'd love Farmtown and Farmville!! LOL

 

[Mickey Fliers]

If she get it now at 9, what does she have to look forward to at 13? I think she should wait.

If you were to allow a FB profile, I wouldn't allow her to "friend" any adult...even family. You never know what a "friend" is going to post on a family members page. KWIM? I wouldn't want my nieces and nephews to see some of the stuff that my "friends" post.

 

[Tink_Or_Belle]

voted no I have 2 daughters one turns 13 soon one is 10 I let the older one have an account she is signed up with my birthday not to cheat the system but to avoid people who are looking for 13 year olds who the heck stalks the profiles of 35 year old moms of 3... nobody I'd know haha. however she does not know her password she is not on there when I am not close enough to log her on. When she is 14 she can have her password.

My 10 year old has classmates who have facebook and she has asked even whined some she still does not get one she has severe middle child syndrome very Jan Brady Its not FAIR my sister gets EVERYTHING I keep reminding her in 2 years she will have these things but will be mad that her sister has other things. I can hear it now MOM She got her LICENSE why can't I have MY license its not faaaaiiiiiiiirrrrr

by the way I was a middle yself and my mom loved that mine whines. she swore I kept a notebook of exactly what age my older brother got to do each thing and expected them on the exact same day ... I swear I never said Matt was 15 years 2 months 4 days 3 hours and 19 minutes old when you let him do that ... so you HAVE to let me now

 

[HelenePA]

thats what I was thinking...she'd love Farmtown and Farmville!! LOL

I'm thinking of getting my kids these even the 4 yr old.. they all want to play my farmtown.. I would just keep them on the highest privacy settings out there along with assumed names. I wouldn't give them out to anyone.

 

[raysnkaysmom]

voted no I have 2 daughters one turns 13 soon one is 10 I let the older one have an account she is signed up with my birthday not to cheat the system but to avoid people who are looking for 13 year olds who the heck stalks the profiles of 35 year old moms of 3... nobody I'd know haha. however she does not know her password she is not on there when I am not close enough to log her on. When she is 14 she can have her password.

My 10 year old has classmates who have facebook and she has asked even whined some she still does not get one she has severe middle child syndrome very Jan Brady Its not FAIR my sister gets EVERYTHING I keep reminding her in 2 years she will have these things but will be mad that her sister has other things. I can hear it now MOM She got her LICENSE why can't I have MY license its not faaaaiiiiiiiirrrrr

by the way I was a middle yself and my mom loved that mine whines. she swore I kept a notebook of exactly what age my older brother got to do each thing and expected them on the exact same day ... I swear I never said Matt was 15 years 2 months 4 days 3 hours and 19 minutes old when you let him do that ... so you HAVE to let me now

She absolutley had middle child syndrome... I feel bad...but it drives me crazy with all her whines.. some may be legit, but the whine drives me insane.. I've constantly been quoting willie wonka "I can't understand a word you are saying. Mumbler"

 

[browneyes106]

I think 9 is a bit too young for a profile but I don't it's bad thing since you plan to monitor her activity and passwords.