Facebook

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Social site connects friends, requires privacy.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Learning3
Best: Really engaging, great learning approach.
Very Good: Engaging, very good learning approach.
Good: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
Fair: Somewhat engaging, okay learning approach.
Not for Learning : Not recommended for learning.
Not for Kids: Not age-appropriate for kids; not recommended for learning.

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Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that teens must be diligent about setting privacy controls on Facebook. Every time Facebook updates its features, users must check settings to confirm what information they're sharing and what they're keeping private. "Frictionless sharing" apps -- which allow users to share without having to take action -- bring additional privacy concerns. The Facebook Timeline shows every activity going back to a user's first post. It's like a permanent record, but the good news is that you can use it to delete posts you really don't want there anymore or change your privacy setting for the post to be viewable only by yourself.

Privacy shortcuts on the upper right hand corner of the page allow you to remove personal information like your gender or birthday, and you can also block search engines from showing a direct link to your timeline. To completely remove previous posts from searches, you'll need to review your "Activity Log" to see a list of all your Facebook activity and to review or edit the privacy setting for each item. After you've made privacy updates, you can double-check your changes by clicking on "View As," which will show you what your timeline looks like to a specific friend or to the public.

Facebook's most recent round of changes includes the "Graph Search," a super-charged search tool that mines Facebook's wealth of user data. From the search bar on the top left of the page, you can explore general info like "nearby restaurants" and "pages about news" or dig for more personal tidbits such as "music my friends like" and "people who like dogs and live in San Francisco." With such easy access to user data, it's important to recheck your privacy settings. For each section of your Timeline (About, Likes, Music, Groups, etc.), click the pencil icon in the top right of the section box to review privacy settings and modify who can see (and search for) the info.

  • Users can click on a thumbs-up icon to like comments or pages. User-submitted content runs the gamut of uplifting to disturbing. As Facebook has expanded, it has managed to stay fairly benign, but predatory and unsavory users do exist.
  • Search engines like Google turn up a few Facebook pages for topics like crime scene photos and a page that contains photos of allegedly dying/deceased people that anyone logged in can access.
  • Facebook users can post content (photos and language) with lots of sexual innuendo and more. If someone wants, they can access a porn star gift app, view several pages for Playboy, look up porn production companies, friend porn stars (expect explicit comments), and other sexually charged topics, but nudity isn't allowed, so most photos involve women in bikinis or lingerie.
  • Forget about any filter -- teens (and their friends) can key in swear words and other language when posting status updates or commenting on photos. And often speech that teens find funny veers close to hate speech and cruelty.
  • Some ads encourage users to shop online stores, join dating sites, and "like" various pages to get free samples or other offers. But potential buyer beware: "Like" or otherwise interact with a social ad, and your action could be shown alongside the company's message -- and your profile may appear, too. Advertisers also use info about what you and your friends like to determine which ads you'll see when you're on the site. Users can also buy apps and premium items in free games using Facebook Credits, the site's virtual currency, which is earned through special promotions (taking surveys, applying for a credit card, etc.) or can be purchased via credit card or PayPal (50 credits cost $5; 2,360 cost $200). Users can also connect with companies via brand pages.
  • Facebook's platform policies for developers/app creators include language about prohibiting content that promotes the sale of tobacco, firearms, or alcohol-related content (unless they've set parameters to prevent users who are under 21 from seeing the content). However, users can post alcohol references or photos on personal pages; some drug-related pages on legalizing marijuana and other topics also exist.
  • Users should check their privacy settings frequently; changes are common, so it's important to keep tabs on what is and isn't visible to others. Users can video chat or IM on the site with people they've friended, but they can send emails to or receive messages from strangers. However, if kids are 13 to 17 (and admit it when they register), extra protections limit their communication to friends and friends of friends. Some key areas to watch for privacy issues include:
    • Photos: Sharing photos is one of the most popular features on Facebook, but it's also a big area of concern for privacy. Profile tag review allows you to approve or reject a photo tag before it becomes visible in your timeline. Anyone can still tag a photo with your name, but if you choose to use this feature, you can prevent unwanted photos from appearing in your timeline. Find out what you need to know about facial recognition.
    • Apps: With the site's "frictionless sharing" apps, when you authorize an app once, it will share your habits (for example, what news story you've read or what songs you're listening to on Spotify) without asking again. And some of these apps won't allow you to use them unless you agree to sharing. How much and what is shared and how much control you have over it will vary depending on the app. It's possible to hide the app activity from your timeline and/or alter your settings to control who sees the info; this requires taking several steps in your privacy settings.
    • Video: Users can video chat on Facebook. Read our video chatting tips.
    • Places: This location sharing tool can announce a teen's location to Facebook friends.

What kids can learn

3

Kids 13 and older can learn how to communicate with each other online, keep in touch with friends, and express themselves. Teens can also learn basic information about nonprofit organizations and businesses since many of them have pages. Another plus: Facebook can help teens understand social networking -- a skill that will put them in good stead for the future. Watch out, though. Fair warning: Teens might get sucked into a vortex of mundane messages.

Subjects
  • Language & Reading
  • Math
  • Arts
  • Hobbies
Skills
  • Thinking & Reasoning
  • Creativity
  • Self-Direction
  • Emotional Development
  • Communication
    conveying messages effectively, multiple forms of expression
  • Collaboration
    respecting other viewpoints

What's it about?

FACEBOOK is a popular social networking site. Users connect with people of their choosing, who they can then communicate with through the platform and who can then see various aspects of what they post. Users can also play games, watch videos, decorate their page, post and tag photos, share favorite product information, "like" their favorite celebrities and social causes, and more. There are options to set privacy settings, but they are difficult to find and tricky to set. 


Is it any good?

 

Facebook offers registered users a fun way to keep in almost constant contact with friends, family, and acquaintances -- and every update adds another reason for heavy users to make Facebook an essential part of their lives. Privacy experts warn about the dangers of over-sharing and how it can compromise teens' safety and reputation, making strict privacy settings, restraint, and wise use of the "remove" button critical.

Timeline provides a complete list of photos you've posted, posts you've made, and other activity throughout your entire history on Facebook (or longer if you go back to fill in your pre-Facebook years with photos). And Graph Search makes navigating the mountain of user data on Facebook a breeze. Though Graph Search can boost Facebook's potential as a fun and valuable resource for networking and pursuing new interests, it can also make users with less savvy about their own privacy settings more vulnerable to accidental over-sharing. Having this much information readily available for viewing may appeal to some users, but others will want to use their privacy settings carefully to remove some content from view.

The site's "frictionless sharing" apps bring another set of privacy concerns. It's important to note that users aren't required to use these types of apps, but if they choose to, they're agreeing to give up some aspects of their privacy -- not just to their friends, subscribers, or the public, but also to advertisers.

Fortunately, Facebook continues to provide users with numerous options for privacy settings. For example, you can opt to approve photo and other tags before they're posted to your timeline and control who sees past posts if you adjust your privacy settings accordingly. You can also opt to hide types of activity -- such as people you friend -- and remove photos from your timeline. However, making your profile less public may require you to adjust several default settings.


Explore, discuss, enjoy

  • Families can talk about how to responsibly use social networking sites -- and how to react if someone (even a good friend) posts something inappropriate on your Facebook timeline. (Parents should get up to speed on Facebook so they have a sense of what kids are doing on it.)

  • Discuss privacy settings. Because Facebook makes frequent changes, it's a good idea to sit down with your teen for periodic profile reviews. Pay close attention to the privacy settings and what posts, photos, and personal information are visible and to whom.


This review of Facebook was written by

What kids can learn

3

Kids 13 and older can learn how to communicate with each other online, keep in touch with friends, and express themselves. Teens can also learn basic information about nonprofit organizations and businesses since many of them have pages. Another plus: Facebook can help teens understand social networking -- a skill that will put them in good stead for the future. Watch out, though. Fair warning: Teens might get sucked into a vortex of mundane messages.


Subjects
  • Language & Reading:
  • Math:
  • Science:
  • Social Studies: global awareness
  • Arts:
  • Hobbies:
Skills
  • Thinking & Reasoning:
  • Creativity:
  • Self-Direction:
  • Emotional Development:
  • Communication: conveying messages effectively, multiple forms of expression
  • Collaboration: respecting other viewpoints
  • Responsibility & Ethics: following codes of conduct, making wise decisions, respect for others
  • Tech Skills: social media
  • Health & Fitness:

What's it about?

FACEBOOK is a popular social networking site. Users connect with people of their choosing, who they can then communicate with through the platform and who can then see various aspects of what they post. Users can also play games, watch videos, decorate their page, post and tag photos, share favorite product information, "like" their favorite celebrities and social causes, and more. There are options to set privacy settings, but they are difficult to find and tricky to set. 


How kids will learn

Posting and commenting gives teens a chance to practice written communication skills and a cascade of prompts teases out quirky forms of self-expression. If used wisely and with attention to privacy issues, teens can also strengthen friendships with close friends and casual acquaintances. The Timeline function makes past events and photos live on so that events -- good or bad -- reside there forever unless individually removed.


How parents can help

  • Explore with your kids what comments are worth sharing and not sharing on Facebook.
  • Discuss how friendships might play out online versus offline.
  • Guide them toward pages for organizations and causes that interest them.

This review of Facebook was written by
Kid, 12 years old
March 26, 2011
 
I have Facebook - as do a lot of my friends. I understand why they have the set age of 13, but if you're 12 or even 11 for that matter, Facebook is fine! You should know the basics of online safety, though - such as not accepting friend requests from people you do not know. If you know that much, I think you can be on Facebook. But just remember: It's much easier to be mean online than in person. Don't do or say anything online you wouldn't say in person!
What other families should know:

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Teen, 13 years old
February 10, 2011
 
not a great idea.
I think that if you let your kids have a facebook, thats great and stuff, but you also have to think about the privacy and how much time they're going to spend on the computer. my friend has a facebook, and its insane how long she spends on there. its like her life is on facebook. i HAD one i DELETED it because i was addicted, and it really wasted my time. i got BULLIED on there, and my account kept getting hacked (i didn't share my password with n e one!) just recently, some kids at my school were bullying my other friend and making rude comments and pages that made her sad.. i don't think any child should go through that. i really think that you should think twice before letting kids on there.
What other families should know:

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Teen, 15 years old
April 1, 2011
 
In social networks, you are responsible.
Like each social networking websites, you are responsible. Facebook's legal policy says that you must to be at least 13 years old to use it, but I disagree. The FTC COPPA law says, that users under 13 must receive a parental consent and have a bit of guidance. But Facebook stripped this and it makes me very annoying. Internet communication must be availiable for all ages, but Facebook disagreed. Everybody under 13 is trying to violate its legal policy. FTC COPPA law I support a bit. Facebook is not a dating website, not a porn website etc, but a bit suggestive content can appear. I know some underage children on Facebook, and they are very kind, yoi to kawaii desu ne....(sorry for Japanese, in english it will be "kind and cute"). They are not violators, not predators, nor bandits nor gangsters nor terrorists.... I better rate it high PG, or 9-10-11+.
What other families should know:

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Teen, 14 years old
March 16, 2010
 
An iffy site, but can be useful
Facebook is an iffy site. It can be very useful, like meeting old friends and family to reconnect with them. On the other hand, it can be dangerous. Cyber bullying on social networking sites is very common, and it happens on Facebook at times. There can also be hackers. If you let your child on Facebook, be sure to tell them to only add people that they KNOW are their friends; they shouldn't really add someone they don't know. If your child is ever cyber bullied, you can block people and delete them from your child's Facebook page, which is another useful and helpful tool on Facebook. Like I said in the beginning, it can be helpful and useful. You just need to be careful about who your friends and what people are posting on their walls.
What other families should know:

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Kid, 10 years old
March 17, 2010
 
Good for mature kids, teens and adults
Well facebook can be good and bad because you can put your settings so no one can see your profile and only your friends can see your profile, info, pics etc etc. I put this 10+ because just like I said they can set there privacy options to only friends and they will be fine. The iffy thing is that some people might swear, but it happens rarely. Kids defenetly should ask there parents before going on Facebook because each person has a different opinion about facebook and other social networking sites.
What other families should know:

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Kid, 11 years old
October 31, 2009
 
You need to read this as it involves what you need to know
Safety is and not a problem. You can leash out information but as long as you keep only friends you know outside of the computer and block everyone else, it's fine. It does have an age limit of I think 14 but many people fake their age. Do not be fooled by celebritys, they are normal people pretending to be Miley Cyrus and Nick Jonas. They are posers. It is rarely you will find the real person. I say its safe for 11 and over but their not even meant to have an account so I would leave it until they are old enough to have an account. Once they are older enough to have one, just leave another couple of years until you are sure the responsible enough to have an account. Keep double checking their friends and information though as you never know who they could add. Keep them under your thumbs!
What other families should know:

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Teen, 13 years old
April 10, 2010
 
Good for finding old frinds bad for finding newfriends
I've had my facebook account since I was 11 and never had any privacy problems as long as I only add people I know on my friend list
What other families should know:

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Kid, 10 years old
August 7, 2010
 
Privacy is a big issue!
You really need to be careful with websites like this, because privacy is a big issue! Cause' whatever you post on there you can take off! Like my friend got her facebook when she was 5! And it seemed like her parents did not really know about it That is why it is still really dangerous! Because what if sometihng happend...???
What other families should know:

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Kid, 12 years old
June 3, 2011
 
Epic site for staying in touch with your friends is risky!
I thought I was never going to get a Facebook. At first, I thought having a Facebook is a waste of time, but now that I made an account, I loved it! You get to chat with friends and stuff! But beware, Facebook has a lot of bad stuff. Users can chat about sexual, violent or language filled topics. Some drinking and drugs might also appear in comments. But you usually just chat with friends. Unless you make friends with strangers. That would be wrong. There might also be pictures or videos of women in bikinis. Some might even be reveiling, showing their breasts. So if you are mature enough to not look for that sort of stuff, then you can have a facebook. There are games on the facebook website. Um, there are some multiplayer game on facebook. Don't play them unless you want to get stalked. They can see your profile name and other stuff if they search you later. So, yeah.
What other families should know:

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Parent of 8 year old
March 11, 2011
 
only for kids 13+
I agree with the reviews. My step-son's mother opened an account for him to play Farmville. We did not agree with him having an account since he is only 8 years old. She assured us she had the account private. Sure enough after a week or so one of her friends forgot they had an 8 yr old as a friend and were using inappropriate language which was displayed on his wall. There have been other incidents that showed her lack of monitoring the account so we have closed the account.
What other families should know:

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This review of Facebook was written by
This review of Facebook was written by

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