Zuckerberg wants Facebook access for children under 13, but is it a good idea? – KSL
July 24, 2011 by admin
Filed under Lingerie Events
In an online community that thrives on verbal interaction, language becomes another hurdle to deal with. Hate speech and other vicious attacks can be hurdled in this unmoderated environment without ease. Swear words are not censored. Even the traditional form of automatically replacing part of the word with asterisks is ignored.
At the moment, gaining access to Facebook by someone under the age of 13 can be easily accomplished with some minimal mathematic abilities. Simply calculate a date that is at least 13 years earlier than today’s date and you have managed to hoodwink a very complex network of computer systems.
Unable to think on their own, these computers have no way of performing an independent verification of the registrant’s age. This is an unfortunate flaw that is unlikely to change anytime in the near future. Nobody would stand for the hassle of sending their birth certificate to Facebook’s Palo Alto headquarters for verification, even if it did mean a golden ticket into the wonderful world of social networking.
Engage children in discussions about the dangers of social networking. Social networking fosters a world where nothing is ever as it seems. Whether it is an innocuous profile that sports a photo taken decades ago before you put on those 50 pounds, or an entire new persona, the ease with which deception flourishes in these environments underscores the need for diligence.
It is this level of caution that an immature child would unlikely be able to discern when asked for their phone number, for example, or address. Even if taught properly, someone under the age of 13 may not realize that seemingly immaterial pieces of information could be damaging if released. While taught better than to directly reveal an address, a child may not understand that revealing a parent’s name could quickly lead to a match in a telephone book.
Ultimately, this is a fight that will occur on Capitol Hill between lobbyists and legislators. A parallel battle is currently raging within the walls of homes across America. Establish firm policies regarding what boundaries you expect your children to abide by. Ensure that you monitor their behavior closely and hold them responsible for their actions.
Joseph Irvine is a self-employed computer engineer in Madison, Ala. A graduate of Utah State University, he hopes to pursue a degree in law at BYU in the near future.
