Tools for this page
Print
  • Is it age appropriate?

    About our ratings

    (Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)

    Not age appropriate for kids under 14, age appropriate for kids over 16; suggested age 14.
  • Is it any good?

    3.0
  • Common Sense says

    Improved privacy, but safety is up to the user.

updated 10.02.09

Why We Rated This iffy for Ages 14–16

The good stuff

  • Educational value:

    Facebook offers a way to communicate with friends and discuss subjects of interest.
 

What to watch out for

  • Online interaction:

    Friends can stay in constant communication on Facebook. People can update their Facebook status by the minute, chat on IM, send email and other media. Friends can "poke" one another to initiate communication. You can ignore poking if you wish, though.
  • User-created content:

    It's all user-created content on Facebook and the quality, tone, content, and intent are all up to user. Teach your kids to practice responsible online behavior and good digital citizenship and encourage them to only friend others who do so.
  • Messages:

    User-submitted content runs the gamut of uplifting to disturbing. As Facebook has expanded beyond college-only users, it has managed to stay fairly benign, although predatory and unsavory users do exist.
  • Violence:

    User-submitted content sometimes contains violent topics, but Facebook members usually only have access to profiles of people they know.
  • Sex:

    User-submitted content sometimes contains sexual topics, but Facebook members usually only have access to profiles of people they know unless they join a sexually-themed group.
  • Language:

    User-submitted content sometimes contains coarse and sexual language visible to their Facebook friends or members of groups they have joined.
  • Consumerism:

    There are ads, some of which actively promote Facebook users to comment and participate. You can also purchase icon "gifts" to send to friends -- the first one is free; after that they're $1.
  • Drinking, drugs, & smoking:

    Postings about drinking, drugs, and smoking are common.
 

How safe is it?

  • Personal privacy:

    Simplified privacy settings introduced in July '09 offer Facebook users more control over the content they want to share and with whom. You can control your audience on a per-post basis, and you can also choose exactly which audience you wish to share information with, including specific Friend Lists, all of your friends, your friends and people in your school or work networks, and friends of friends.
 

What Parents Need to Know

About Facebook

Parents need to know that privacy functions should be stressed when it comes to Facebook (which requires that kids to be 13 to join). While members have many options for controlling their profiles -- who can see them, how much they can see, what they can see, and so forth -- there are still ways for the determined to find someone. But you can't easily browse through Facebook's profiles unless you know the person (or unless the person is one of the very few who make their profiles completely public). Items from the mini news feed (which tracks users' every move and posts it to their friends) can be deleted, and Beacon (which tracks purchases made by users on other sites and sends alerts to their friends) can both be turned off. As with any loosely-regulated social networking site, inappropriate information (think words and photos) often appears in personal profiles. Photos of kids drinking, etc. abound. Also, users have to email the company to delete their profiles, although there are plans to create a button that will do it for you. There are thousands of applications that users can put on their profile (games, virtual gifts) and those that don't meet certain privacy requirements will be banned.

Did this review help you decide?

Families Can Talk About

Want more? Get Common Sense recommendations delivered to your inbox.

Our Members Say

Use this Web site? Review It!

  • What did you think about Facebook?
  •  I think this Web site is

    for ages

  •  I also give it

  •  Any concerns?

  •  Any highlights?

  •  Love it? Hate it?

  • or to post a review
See all 98 member reviews

Most Recent Reviews

  1. Adult Reviewer
    I rate this title off for age 17 and give it 1.0
    My concerns are:
    • Safety is an issue

    murderers and drug addicts contacting my kids

    Facebook is allowing a convicted murder and several drug addicts/felons to contact my minor children. I have attempted to enlist Facebook's help and Facebook REFUSED TO DO ANYTHING! As a father I have rights - but not according to Facebook.

  2. I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 5.0

    there is nothing really bad as long as people use common sense, 13 is the youngest age allowed n the site and anyone who thinks it should be higher should see a doctor, 13 year olds are perfictly capable of understanding most things about saftey and what is right and what is wrong.

  3. Teen Reviewer Age 15
    Lives in Missouri
    I rate this title on for age 12 and give it 2.0

    cv

    I dont really care abour face book, i prefer talkin to mates over the phone. Pointless!

  4. Teen Reviewer Age 14
    Lives in California
    I rate this title iffy for age 12 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • User content isn't age appropriate

    Facebook is just a search engine with a smily face.

    All of you should stop being so naive. Facebook is essentially a search engine with a friendly face. There are quizzes, gifts, and games. All of those contain sexual material. Quizzes include: are you sexy? what sex position are you? ( All accompanied by pics) Gifts: Animated silhouettes having sex while cartwheeling, flipping, etc. games. Here is one. Juggle Fireballs to appease the goddess! The goddess is clothed only in her hair, barely covering the essentials.

  5. Teen Reviewer Age 13
    I rate this title on for age 13 and give it 4.0
    My concerns are:
    • Inappropriate sexual content
    • Inappropriate language
    • User content isn't age appropriate

    • My highlights are:
    • Safety isn't an issue

    I find that the biggest problem with facebook is that my friends don't really know how to secure their facebook. Facebook is a great option to stay in touch with friends, and as most social networking sites have bad stuff, but the biggest stuff you can filter out yourself.

More Great Stuff For Your Kids

  • Now Playing

    Where the Wild Things Are

    Where the Wild Things Are

    Sometimes-dark adaptation focuses on friendship, loneliness.

  • Tech Tip

    How to help them think more ... and want less.Making the Sale

    How to help them think more ... and want less.

  • Must See TV

    Fanboy and Chum Chum

    Fanboy and Chum Chum

    Zany adventures are low on depth but high on imagination.

  • Pick of the Week

    Holiday Websites

    Holiday Websites

    Where to surf, turkey time and beyond.

  • Download This

    "Wash Your Hands" (CD single)

    "Wash Your Hands" (CD single)

    "Acccchhhoooo!" A funny reminder to help kids fight the flu.

Give Us a Minute, Get a Lot of Common Sense!
  • Age-appropriate best bets for your kids
  • Weekly email alert with the latest picks, reviews & advice
  • Post your own reviews and share them with friends

This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.
A screen name protects your privacy
To post a review or comment you must become a Common Sense Member. It's easy!

Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.

Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations.
A screen name protects your privacy

Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
(optional)
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child

We can make Common Sense just right for you. With a little info about you and your family, you'll get the most out of our site.

Set-up your account
This will never be displayed to others.
Your email will never be displayed to others.
Your password should be 6-10 characters long.

Tell us your children's ages
You'll see the movies, games, books, shows, music, and sites our editors select just for them. As your children get older, our picks will grow with them!
Why we ask for this
We never display your children's names, (or nicknames) to anyone, but you. Providing your children's ages allows us to personalize information on our site, so you get better information, faster.
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
is
until
Add another child

Choose a screen name
It will appear when you post your own reviews and recommendations
A screen name protects your privacy
Register to add this school to your profile. You'll be able to see and share reviews from parents, teachers, and kids at your child's school.
I'm already a Common Sense member.
Kids under 13 must use a screen name