A recent survey by Consumer Reports has shown that Facebook has a bit of a problem with it's age control restrictions. The social networking site is technically restricted to individuals of age 13 or older, a rule that did not stop 7.5 million underage users from signing up. Facebook, like many age restricted sites, relies on user honesty—something in relatively short supply on the Internet.
Why does this matter? Facebook is more than a great waste of time; as the report points out it's also a breeding ground for computer viruses, an information market for identity thieves, and a playground for cyberbullies. Over 5 million computers were hit by Facebook-related viruses and 1 million children were the victims of cyberbullying.
According to the study, a lot of parents just don't care. But they should. The Internet is awesome, but it can be scary and dangerous too. We've chronicled the many, many iterations of Facebook's privacy controls which are murky and counterintuitive even to paranoid and computer-savvy adults. A kid may be smart enough to lie about his age, but is probably not aware enough to understand the dangers inherent in oversharing personal information.
While Facebook is working on the problem, mostly in the form of parental education, parents who care can take a more active role in keeping their kids and their computers safe. Parental control software can help monitor online behavior, including social networking activities. Internet security software helps to keep computers safe from viruses and other malware that can compromise a family's security. Finally, parents should consider investing in identity theft protection which can keep them and their family's financial future safe from criminals both online and off.