The Horror: Your Parents on Facebook, Befriending You

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The Horror: Your Parents on Facebook, Befriending You

by kiki2u @ 2009-01-04 – 09:53:01 pm

The growing popularity of Facebook has an unintended consequences for young people who used to have the social networking website all to themselves: their parents are joining and befriending them!

The Facebook group entitled: "For the love of god — don’t let parents join Facebook" has 5,819 high school and college-aged members who want to stop the growing number of parents who are joining Facebook, the massively popular social networking site, from "spying" on them. [...]

- "It’s really weird that nonstudents and parents use Facebook," said Emma Gaines, a Tufts University sophomore.
- "It makes me feel really uncomfortable that my older aunt has Facebook, because she says that she likes to check up on her teenage nieces and nephews and takes our pictures for her own use. That’s creepy."

xxx
Kiki
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- kids
- family.
- parents
- entertainment
- facebook
- 2009
- flu bah bah

31 Comments to The Horror: Your Parents on Facebook, Befriending You

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- Teri_R
- 2009-01-04 @ 09:58:56 pm
I have all my children on my Facebook list.

I like to know what they are doing and Ami keeps me amused with her status updates about my grandchildren.

I only look at Matt's pictures if invited to do so though!
- - kiki2u
  - http://www.kikita.blog.co.uk
  - 2009-01-04 @ 10:01:47 pm
  Hi T.
  I posted this because my nephew, a teen now doesn't let us know about it!!! Or see whatever about what he is doing on facebook and on Hi5!
  
  That's great that you and your kids have that great friendship... I and Filipe we are also great friends but he really doesn't like to show us what he does on the Net!
  xxxx
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- SeasideMan ^Pro
- 2009-01-04 @ 10:11:40 pm
Honestly, the lack of experience that kids have with the world is staggering sometimes. Didn't they guess their parents would be peeping at what they're up to? No, I guess not! Many lessons to be learned there...

Tom.
- - kiki2u
  - http://www.kikita.blog.co.uk
  - 2009-01-04 @ 10:27:13 pm
  Hi Tom
  Thank you for drop in; yes kids have so much to learn yet, that's what worries me with my nephew on the Net... i try to have an eye on what he is doing but mostly of what he does i really don't know..and i don't see what harms i know what he is telling or showing or even saying on Hi5 or Facebook...or whatever around the web!!!
  HAPPY NEW YEAR for you Tom,
  xxxx
  Kiki
  - - SeasideMan ^Pro
    - 2009-01-04 @ 10:51:18 pm
    One thing that will never change no matter how much the world changes in other ways is the care that parents and other relatives have for their young ones. Your nephew will be fine as long as he sticks to a few basic common-sense rules: no real names, addresses, schools or photos and never meet anyone. I have been told I'm old-fashioned and no-one keeps secrets on the net any more. But cybercrime is rising too. So am I paranoid or not?
    
    Happy new year to you too.
    
    Tom.
    - - kiki2u
      - http://www.kikita.blog.co.uk
      - 2009-01-04 @ 11:34:26 pm
      I agree Tom, that's true, and Filipe is as if my son, kinda borther, as my sister died and i cared for him with my parents help. So by law and love i'm his mommy so yes worries me a lot that he is giving his name and posting his photos there...though i always told him not to, especially adresses, schools, and so on as the full name, etc.
      Old-fshioned bcz this??? No way!
      That's why i worry because the cybercrime is rising..anyway filipe is a kid that is well aware of the Net weirdos and hackers, as well what they can do as pedophiles but is never enough we tell them something, at least is with love that we warn our kids! For their sake!
      Thanks Tom, yes i hope this is a much better year for me
      xx
      Kiki
      - kiki2u
        
        http://www.kikita.blog.co.uk
        
        2009-01-05 @ 12:08:16 am
        
        PS: but Tom why on Earth Facebook as that as that as title: ''The Facebook group entitled: "For the love of god — don’t let parents join Facebook"
        
        I find it strange you know?
        
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- Zappy5971
- 2009-01-04 @ 10:33:58 pm
Well Um........... Hate to tell the kids this. But there is NOTHING they are doing right now that we didn't do first. Get over it???
- - kiki2u
  - http://www.kikita.blog.co.uk
  - 2009-01-04 @ 10:36:58 pm
  LOL well in that perspective yes you are so right Zappy
  Thank you very much
  Happy New Year for you
  xx
  Kiki
  - - Zappy5971
    - 2009-01-04 @ 10:43:04 pm
    Happy New Year to you Hon, and really? we don't judge you half as much as you think. We probably shake our heads and go "ooh I know?" Wayyyyyyyyyyyy more often than you think?
    - - kiki2u
      - http://www.kikita.blog.co.uk
      - 2009-01-04 @ 11:26:53 pm
      Thanks Zappy, as i told in a previous post today, i am yet very attacked by the flu, and coming sometimes shortly to the blogland, posting, trying reply to all friends, as well visiting them but when full recover i'l check it better. That's why only now replying you bcz went to have my flu meds and a soup.
      
      Yeah i don't judge no one or even myself because we are humans and bcz so no perfect. But you right on that perspective yes, though i think we must have an eye on the kids and what are they doing on the net, though my nephew has lots of freedom there, i just like to ask sometimes about what type of game is he playing and so...this only because those weird things that we know can happen being too much on the net and we don't know who is..oor even the kid also don't know.
      xxxx
      Kiki
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- deleted user (Visitor)
- http://theastralkingdom.blog.co.uk
- 2009-01-04 @ 11:06:26 pm
Luckerly my mother doesn't like things like facebook so I am safe

hello my beautiful friend ... sorry I have not been over of late have been busy getting ready for the school starting tomorrow ... my little Dragons first day back he loves school actually even though he complains sometimes.

[[[BIG WARM HUGS2U]]]

XoooX
- - kiki2u
  - http://www.kikita.blog.co.uk
  - 2009-01-04 @ 11:39:56 pm
  Oh my dear Naomi, i have been really unwell with this flu, i slept all afternoon till moments ago, then had a soup and the meds.
  now will rest soon, so i visit you,cz miss your blog too.
  LOL she doesn't?
  
  But u know? I don't have nothing about myslf/me on Facebook, even on Hi5, i just have this blog
  
  My nephew loves the school too, and yeah they begin it tomorrow
  
  {{{GBHUGS2U}}}
  xxxx
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- RacyTracy ^Pro
- 2009-01-04 @ 11:23:05 pm
My kids have both just added me..... I was amazed that they did, I didn't want to cramp their style and waited for them to do the inviting. Needless to say I waited a long while.
- - kiki2u
  - http://www.kikita.blog.co.uk
  - 2009-01-04 @ 11:36:22 pm
  Hi RT
  
  Really? WOW, that's so good, my nephew didn't!!! And doesn't lie at all that i ask him about what he does there!
  HAPPY NEW YEAR
  xx
  Kiki
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- menhir
- 2009-01-04 @ 11:48:07 pm
Not weird - my child tells me to find mutual friends on it and see what sprog up to and what sprog's friends are doing. They even say 'hi' to me or leave messages for me with sprog.
- - kiki2u
  - http://www.kikita.blog.co.uk
  - 2009-01-05 @ 12:04:59 am
  Hi M.
  Awww that's so nice!
  Well, as i told Filipe since we have the Net at home...and since some few years ago...all i could so he be aware of the dangers on the internet, i guess i trust him, and am not checking what he's doing, just am afraid that to some strange one he shares things he shoulnd't, but i trust he doesn't do that, he is a kid well aware of the what's going on around the cyberspace. So i hope he and others kids keep being aware of that, never meeting strage people, and i respect the fact of he doesn't want to show me his facebook, etc...though now i'm a bit curious LOL
  xxxxx
  Kiki
  - - menhir
    - 2009-01-05 @ 03:01:04 pm
    You should be curious Kiki. Your nephew must be educated to the dangers. Good for you.
    
    My child found out recently, that my caution was not so silly and now there is a little more circumspection in using the internet systems and chat rooms.
    
    However, There was never any secrecy about things on the internet that might have concerned sprog in the early years. If there was a possible problem, I would be called to look at it and if necessary, advise. I am glad there was always that kind of openness and sharing. It worked well. There was no invasion of privacy. We didn't see everything and didn't have access to everything. I had no problem with that.
    - - kiki2u
      - http://www.kikita.blog.co.uk
      - 2009-01-05 @ 09:53:05 pm
      Yes I really am curious, not only because he is a teen now but also worries me the human traffic since there is no frontiers!
      
      Some of his friends go alone to a meeting with a girl..that they never saw in their lives... in towns they don't know and far away from Lisbon!!! They trust on stranges too much easy and can't be..well my nephew since a baby we always told him not to! Filipe always tells me about that of some his friends as he is aware of its dangers and hears the news, he likes very much to hear that with my father, so he knows how easy is to one of them disappear for ever!
      
      Today i talked with him and he showed me his things on Hi5 but not the Facebook, so i will talk again about this to him, now i want to see it as i also heard on news that Portugal was on the Top of the list where parents don't check what their kids do on the Net! We have a mutual trust, usually i know what he's doing but i'm not always checking indeed.
      
      Yes, that's so good that relationship between you and your child, that's really great; i notice from the rep,lies here on this post that UK parents are much more aware and near their kids than here in Portugal; people here trust too much easy the Net to their chilren, don't check what they do...most don't indeed...i guess they think that letting the kids having fun on the Net is great for them because they have time for themselves as a couple or not; i don't agree with it!
      - menhir
        
        2009-01-05 @ 10:31:11 pm
        
        There has to be a balance between supporting the development of the use of technology, communications, computers etc and understanding that there is some risk in everything. There is a risk in being at school, there is a risk at being at a football match, there is a risk in getting on a train or a bus, there is a risk in walking in the street. None of these risks should freeze people from having a sociable life. It is the fear that is worse than the real facts.
        
        We have government 'health warnings' about internet communications and just about everything else we do in life.Some of it is useful, and it is very good to raise awareness of some of the things that can happen. It is not a good idea to be oppressive with it. Teenagers will not say anything to people who care about them if they think they are being blocked.
        
        Yes some unpleasant things do happen on the internet, but unpleasant events happen everywhere, we must not forget that. Some very happy things happen on the internet too. We don't hear much about that, probably because those events are nothing to worry about!
        
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        kiki2u
        
        http://www.kikita.blog.co.uk
        
        2009-01-05 @ 10:49:43 pm
        
        Actually that is so true Menhir!
        Well, as for instance here in BCUK we really feel secure, i feel it and others too.
        
        Yes happy things happen but are the unhappy ones that worries me if a kid don't trust their parents and doesn't tell what's he's up to on the Net.
        Anyway yes we all have our life lesson, and lots during our teens indeed!
        xxxx
        Kiki
        
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- Miza-T
- 2009-01-05 @ 01:19:24 am
Yes, I'm friends with the girls, their choice.
But we ARE best friends in real life and that is what some parents should do in first place.
Trust your child and they will trust you.

xx
- - kiki2u
  - http://www.kikita.blog.co.uk
  - 2009-01-05 @ 01:25:42 am
  I completely agree with you...but the thing with Filipe is that he shares it with his girfriends and doesn't want me there knowing about what they flirt LOL I'm sure
  xxxx
  Kiki
  PS: Cz the flu and the fever i slept almost all day and now am trying to feel so I zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz and hope to kick this nasty flu away far away than Pluto!
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- davij ^Pro
- 2009-01-05 @ 02:47:55 am
I'm friend with my daughter,
My boy blocked me haha!
xxx
- - kiki2u
  - http://www.kikita.blog.co.uk
  - 2009-01-05 @ 05:29:57 am
  HAHAHAHAAAAAA he blocked you??? OOOOH
  See what i mean? i'm sure Filipe would block me either hahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
  
  Anyway better i let him in peace, i trust him, he has my Passwords, from my mail and from my blog, we have a great relationship, just i think he doesn't want me there bcz some girl...or girls
  
  xxxx
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- xmillyxxx ^Pro
- 2009-01-05 @ 11:39:59 am
My parents are'nt clever enough to use facebook...they have just learnt how to send E Mails

my children are too young to be checking up on me..I think xx
- - kiki2u
  - http://www.kikita.blog.co.uk
  - 2009-01-05 @ 12:20:48 pm
  HAHAHA you think! bcz kids know use PC to damn well! I know cz my nephew and his friends, i'm stunned how they do everything..and am sure that some are kinda hackers on the net i use to notice that they have a great fun and laugh out loudly..can't imagine what they are doing
  Actually they usually have fun chatting with their friends, girls especially, and with those games online..anyhow well we never know eh?
  xxxx
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- ganesharocks
- http://yogini.blog.ca
- 2009-01-05 @ 02:20:36 pm
Hey KK! I think if more young adults or teens talked to their parents truthfully about what was happening in their lives this wouldn't be an issue!
- - kiki2u
  - http://www.kikita.blog.co.uk
  - 2009-01-05 @ 09:17:57 pm
  Hi my dear Tammy, only now i'm returning online a bit, the fu plus its meds made me sleep all afternoon again till 8.30pm! I'm not used to sleep during the day, i never do, than i don't sleep all night...well i hope tonight i sleep well though this flu really knocked me down! Sorry replying only now, that's the reason:
  
  Yes, i do agree with you, but you know how we are when we're kids or teens, yes especially teens most don't trust easy on their parents and like to show that they do what they want, as if were rebels or so!
  
  And reading this and other articles about this let me worried now he is growing up; Filipe doesn't use to have secrets with me but he is a teen now and spends too much time on the Net, so today at lunch i spoke with him and he didn't show me what he does or says on Facebook but showed me his Hi5, the friends, and what they chatt about...i didn't insist/bore him just now i really want to see his page on facebook...just in case.
  
  Some of his friends sometimes go out to a meeting with a girl that they don't know!! They trust so easy!!
  
  When that happens he always tells me about because he is warned and knows the dangers of such meetings, and i see or listen he telling others that they are nuts and should be careful, he really tells, i saw; he likes to hear the news with my dad, and around here there is a great problem with the human traffic ( kids, teens and women ) especially since there is no frontiers...and also on news i heard that in EU Portugal was on the top of the list where parents don't know what their kids are up to on the Net!
  I notice on these replies that in UK parents are much aware of what their kids do on the Net than here in Portugal.
  
  Now about the rest of his life Filipe trusts us everything, to me yes, i'm aware of it, is mutual indeed
  xxxx Hope you're feeling better,
  HUGS2u, KK
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- the_real_linda
- http://the-real-linda.blog.co.uk
- 2009-01-14 @ 09:20:29 pm
oh yeah family finding you on facebook makes you realize THE WHOLE WORLD CAN READ YOUR FACE BOOK

oh sure you can hide your profile but come on... gah it scared me.
- - kiki2u
  - http://www.kikita.blog.co.uk
  - 2009-01-15 @ 07:11:34 am
  Hi
  Yes, that's it! Even our blogs they find!
  Thank you for drop in, well i'm not there on Facebook but i knopw the feeling as my family, boyfriend , friends, colleahues=co-workers found my blog, without I tell them about it!!!
  
  We can hide the profile but the Net world is amazing and spooky at same time, they always find it
  
  Well better laugh than cry about it
  xx
  Kiki
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