Social networking: how young is too young?

According to Facebook, no one under the age of 13 can register for a profile, but a growing number of children are sneaking under the age requirements. So what kind of damage is this doing to our youth?

Dan Lundquist of A Better Life counseling says kids who become involved in the world of social networks and a young age can change the way they develop.

"On the internet they can play like they are anyone and they have a whole group of people pretending back. And it can blur the distinction of who I am and what's real. In socializing with other students on the playground and in classes and such, they get a sense of who they are based on how they react back to them. It misses that back and forth interaction that normally happens."


According to experts, it's not just what kids are posting that can be harmful - it's what they are exposed to.

"They are definitely too young to be seeing that kind of stuff. They are going to be exposed to that stuff later in life they are just loosing their innocence a lot younger now," said one woman.

"You would think having your child being friends with aunts and uncles would be fine but if people are posting those kids of things and they don't realize they have their nine year-old niece looking at it," said Lundquist.

Any social network can open the door to predators.

"People who are more predatory can pretend to be anything they want to gain access," warned Lundquist.

So how young is too young? Experts say at least 13 as long as there is some parental supervision.

"If it were me personally with a 13 year-old, I would say they have to friend me," said Lundquist. "So if you do see something that is predatory or harmful you can pull them aside in private and say hey this isn't working out very well and this is what we need to do about it."

It's important that parents understand the technology and know what is going on so they don't get left behind.

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