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Mistakes made here are broadcast amongst a large audience with little opportunity for any kind of ‘take-back’.

But I’m sticking to my decision. Even though fve million of Facebook’s active users last year were reported to be ten and under, those numbers aren’t compelling enough for me to forgo an opportunity to reinforce the importance of respecting boundaries and following rules. At nine, luckily, my son is still at an age where he looks to me for moral guidance. Rules, to him, are pretty concrete. Black or white. A thumbs up or down. I’m in no hurry to start adding shades of grey to this equation. For now, my son accepts that he can’t have a Facebook account until he’s older. So even though he’s not logging on, Facebook has provided a teachable moment.

Embarrassing broadcasts

Age restrictions aside, I’m still trying to assess how

Facebook, there are loads of options and tools for a child to select from. The site allows young users a vast platform to express their feelings and share new ideas. Kids can connect anytime with their classmates, relatives and friends living outside their immediate neighbourhood. It’s an excellent space to share photos and discover one’s personal voice. The site can feel like a community where kids can experience a sense of belonging. It’s social and highly interactive. Children using Facebook may discover a sense of autonomy for the frst time. One could only imagine how empowering it must feel for a child to post a status update and receive positive peer responses. What could be more validating than that?

Unfortunately, like so many good things in life, there are also downsides to think about. Facebook could also

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