Is Facebook Good or Bad for Teenagers?

Slate:

Twenty million teenagers under the age of 18 have Facebook accounts. Of that group, 7.5 million are under the age of 13—the minimum age set both by federal law and Facebook itself. These numbers come from survey results announced in June by Consumer Reports. The magazine also found that many of the underage users weren't being supervised by their parents and that 1 million children had been "harassed, threatened, or subjected to other forms of cyberbullying on the site in the past year."

This is one lens through which to view kids' use of Facebook—the lens of risk. But you can also argue that the site is a useful social tool for teens, allowing them to strengthen their existing friendships, connect with kids with common interests who they might not otherwise meet, and express themselves with newfound creativity. Yes, there's opportunity for bullying, but that's not necessarily a product of Facebook or social networking more generally. It's a fact of teenage life, however unfortunate

Read the whole story: Slate

Comments

[El Chingaso]

11:23 AM on 07/26/2011

No bueno...

[J R M]

03:30 PM on 07/25/2011

Potentially infinite time waster. Not a good idea. But then I see TV as a time waster as well. I am even somewhat down now on educational programs - even my kids notice the stylistic ways that the shows are structured to build tension. We ration screen time for the kids - and my daughter was wise enough not to get an iPhone because she would find it too distracting. She knows that she will have no spare time next year.

[rabbitfurcoat]

08:39 PM on 07/22/2011

I never understood anyone under 18 having facebook. Unless you move to college and lose contact it makes no sense before that. The same friends they see EVERYDAY are the same ones they will add on facebook. Don't forget the other 1000 people they'll add just for the sake of it. Then they put up 457 photos of themselves for the world to see. My partner has facebook because that way he can keep in contact with friends and family who have moved all over the world. he even adds his friends from high school but there is no point because if you truly wanted to keep in contact you would make an effort to pick up the phone or drive to see the person. It makes no sense for someone under 18 to have facebook...why??? Because these same kids BBM eachother when they're across the room.

[MissIndependentLady]

06:46 PM on 07/22/2011

I don't think Facebook is necessary. We live in an era where ways to communicate with people is limitless. Facebook, texting, skype, phone, etc. When Facebook was new, it was a popularity contest. Let's see if I can get over 1,000 friends. Let's see how many likes I get with this status. Let's see how many likes if I use this sexy picture for my profile picture. Also, I think it's dangerous for teenagers to be posting pictures of them drinking. I can't tell you how many people who are underage have pictures of them with a bottle in their mouth. Hello, your family, your job, or much worse a COP could see that. You don't want evidence that you're an underage drinker.

Bottom line, teenagers should not put Facebook on a pedestal. Use it for what it is: a way of communication, and nothing else. And don't talk to strangers and don't take pictures of yourself you know your family would never approve of. Also, I know a lot of people say that it's not private, but if you're smart, then you can make it as private as you want where people who are not your friends can't look at anything on your profile.

[SaraSH]

05:29 PM on 07/22/2011

Absolutely unnecessary waste of time for the little brats. My son won't have access to internet as long as I am alive ( and he won't be in the USA either).

[Counter Sniper]

09:25 AM on 07/23/2011

He will choose for himself when he becomes a man. Do you plan on dying prior to then?

[SaraSH]

05:42 PM on 07/23/2011

Not if he is raised like I was. I shut up and listened until I was 18, even then, I was chaperoned left and right my parents and culture and tradition. Not everyone is a fan of American style parenting. & he won't be raised here. Imagine a military style schooling, that's what I am used to, and that's what he gets. You have to fall many times and learn to get up, or the chances you'll end up a loser is quite high. I am a naturalist, and that is how nature is. Humans aren't evolved to be wasting time facebooking. They are evolved to be tough, be sane, be strong, and take it no matter what. Watch the movie True Grit, that's how I was when I was 14. Show me a 14 yr old who acts like that these days. That's how your ancestors acted like. & that's how they should.

[Edward Wilkes]

02:35 PM on 07/22/2011

I do not think it is the best idea.

[Dede Eagleburger]

11:39 AM on 07/22/2011

"The magazine also found that many of the underage users weren't being supervised by their parents"

That's the only problem.