Quote Originally Posted by maillotpois View Post
I told her if she wanted an account, I have to be one of her friends, period.
Same here with my 13yo daughter. It has been quite a learning experience for me to see what kinds of things her "friends" are posting and saying (some of these kids I know well; some not at all). WOW. I sometimes can barely resist the urge to ask some of these mothers if they have even a clue what their babies are putting out there - and some of their accounts are set up with NO security and even strangers can view their entire profiles!

A few good teaching moments have arisen between my daughter and I as I have (gently) questioned her about something she has posted. I tell her how it would sound to me if someone else's kid had said that and have to keep reminding her that it is not just her really close friends who see what she writes. I just want her to think a bit more before she posts - it's NOT private!!! In spite of my frequent lectures on the topic and my pretty strict control of her internet access, it's amazing how little she comprehends about how far reaching the internet is and how dangerous it can be.

I also could not believe how many kids announced on FB that their families were getting ready to leave on spring break. Since some of them have very low security awareness, there is enough information there to easily find out where they live (we are not in a big city). It's scary!! If they have also been indiscriminate in who they friend or if their whole page is public, it's like taking out an internet ad that says, "Nobody is home for a few days - come help yourselves to our valuables."

I'm sure there will come a time when I feel comfortable unfriending my daughter so that she can have some privacy from me, but we're nowhere close to that point.