Kids on social networking sites- are they too young?

When you sign up for any social networking site (Twitter, Facebook, Myspace), you have to check that you’re over the age of 13. But the only thing keeping kids from these sites is just a little checkmark…and we all know that kids aren’t always honest. And there is literally no way to enforce the age rule.

What can 11 year olds possibly be sharing on social networking sites? While many are probably very innocent, we have all heard the horror stories that can arise.

But are these sites any worse than what kids can do with their phones now? I didn’t have a cell phone until my senior year of high school and it didn’t even have texting (oh, the horrors!)…so is the age 13 limit just an unecessary, arbitrary precaution?

I’m split. I have nieces on these sites and it scares me, but I also trust them. But I worry about my younger niece, who is slowly getting to “that age” where these sites are important. I think maybe kids should be allowed, but with limitations.

Facebook introduces “live feed”

Once again, Facebook and Twitter have fed off each other. Facebook has now introduced a “live feed” (just like the one Twitter has) for the the recap of moments you missed while doing pesky things like sleeping, school or work.

Unlike the last Facebook update, most people seem okay with this change. And Facebook reported no drop in usage…though I wonder if there will be “I hate live feed!” groups that will form.