This article discusses issues around children using Facebook, including that over 7.5 million Facebook users in 2011 were underage, with two-thirds of those being under 10 years old. While Facebook's minimum age is 13, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg believes the age limit should be lower. However, allowing younger kids on Facebook could expose them to risks like cyberbullying and identity theft. Many parents monitor their children's Facebook use, with over 40% checking it daily, though some argue this level of monitoring may not be necessary or effective. There is debate around whether the responsibility lies with parents to regulate their children's social media use, or if sites should strengthen age verification.

1. Children of Facebook
By: Kyle Miller
Image via West McGowan

2. Facebook is a popular social networking
site that has 1.1 billion users as of
May 1st, 2013
Source: Jonathan Espinosa, Facebook grows to 1.1B MAU in Q1 2013, mobile up 124 percent year-over-year
Image via James Cridland

3. At the age of 13,
it is legal for an
individual to own
and operate a
Facebook accountImage via birgerking

4. However
Image via Caroline Bach

5. In 2011, it was claimed 7.5 million
members of Facebook were underage
Image via James Emery
Source: 2011 Consumer Reports survey

6. Of these 7.5 million, two-thirds were
under 10 years old
Image via Tom Hickmore

7. “Children learn to lie about their age”
- Journalism professor Jeff Jarvis
Source: Kevin Makice, “Coming of Age in the Digital Age”
Iamge via D. Sharon Pruitt

8. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, thinks kids under the
age of 13 should be allowed on Facebook.
Source: Michal Lev-Ram, “Zuckerberg: Kids under 13 should be allowed on Facebook”
Image via Jakob Steinschaden

9. “My philosophy is that for education you need to
start at a really, really young age.”
- Mark Zuckerberg
Image via Tim Fields
Source: Michal Lev-Ram, “Zuckerberg: Kids under 13 should be allowed on Facebook”

10. “No matter what age is chosen, there’s not a magical event
that happens on that birthday that makes the child suddenly
older and more mature.” - Microsoft researcher Danah Boyd
Image via Cristiano Betta
Source: Kevin Makice, “Coming of Age in the Digital Age”

11. “We'd take a lot of precautions to make sure
that they [younger kids] are safe.”
- Mark Zuckerberg
Image via Oregon Department of Transportation
Source: Michal Lev-Ram, “Zuckerberg: Kids under 13 should be allowed on Facebook”

12. These children are sharing personal
information with internet predators,
and can be easily be victim to
cyber bullying and identity theft.
Image via Matt Cunnelly

13. Some parents however, are taking action
and are keeping track of their child’s
Facebook
Image via William Neuheisel

14. “I think it is fine for parents to check
on their child's Facebook page”
- Mental health
therapist, Diana Barkman
Image via Mikko Luntiala
Source: McClatchy, “Half of parents keep track of kids on Facebook. Should you?”

15. More than
40% of
parents
look at
their kid's
Facebook
page every
day.
Source: McClatchy, “Half of parents keep track of kids on Facebook. Should you?”
Image via Mikael Altemark

16. “I am on Facebook for my own personal reasons, not to spy.
The only way to really know what they are doing is to have
personal access” – Facebook mom
Source: McClatchy, “Half of parents keep track of kids on Facebook. Should you?”
Image via Anonymous9000

17. Perhaps these parents are taking extreme measures
to protect their children.
And instead, could choose to inform their children
of safe internet practices and how to avoid
potential dangers.
Image via Tanja Van Den Berg-Niggendijker

18. Despite the best efforts of parents,
underage children are still creating social media accounts and sharing
personal information which is easily exploitable
Image via Thoth God of Knowledge

19. Which poses the question…
Image via Bilal Kamoon

20. Should parents really have to regulate their child’s
account?
Or should the age limit of Facebook
and other social media sites be enforced more strictly?
Image via Catherine D

21. Credits
All images are licensed under the
Creative Commons Non-
Commercial Share-Alike 3.0
agreement, and sourced from
Flickr

22. References
• http://expandedramblings.com/index.php/resource-
how-many-people-use-the-top-social-media/
• http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/personalfin
ance/half-of-parents-keep-track-of-kids-on-facebook-
should-you/2119252
• http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/05/20/zuckerberg-
kids-under-13-should-be-allowed-on-facebook/
• http://www.thestar.com/business/tech_news/2013/04
/05/facebook_fatigue_and_the_aging_social_network.
html
• http://www.wired.com/geekdad/2013/02/coming-of-
age-in-the-digital-age