I can honestly talk all day about Facebook. I Got a A in Speaking and Listening just talking about it. I'm on Facebook all day - I'm a self confessed addict. I just can't live without it.

Mark Zuckerburg - one of the founders - wants to lower the age limit so users under 13 can use it! What is your opinion? Mine is this:

The pros of under 13's using Facebook is that they can contact their friends and talk about stuff they have done today. The can also add family members to their profile and so they can talk to their family more easily and for free. They can talk to their best friend all day long.

The Cons are that Paedophiles may add them posing as someone they aren't then they could meet up with them. They may post picture that the whole world will see. Their parents may not even check what they are doing, meaning they could be easily influenced to what people say to them.

I think that it isn't safe for under 13's to be on facebook, I personally got my facebook when I was 14, my mum wouldn't even let me when I was 13 . She said what if this happens what if that happens. But some parents aren't as protective as others. Its just like letting the whole world know what is happening.

Over one third of 9-12 year olds and three quarters of 13-16 year olds who use the Internet in Europe have their own profile on a social networking site * 70% of 9-12 year old in The Netherlands have a profile on a social networking site.

I think that they should have a mini-facebook which children can join but they're teachers at school must verify so that they can use it . This will stop people who are pretending to be underage. If this happens it should only be allowed to be used by under 13 and when they are 13+ they have the option to deactivate their account or proceed to normal Facebook . This could be like what RADIOWAVES do; they ask teacher to acknowledge all their posts.

If my younger siblings joined facebook at a young age I would advise them to deactivate their account till they were old enough to use it.

But, I think a junior facebook would be a good idea if it was managed properly.
*59% of 9-16 year old Internet users in Europe have an SNS profile.

See Livingstone, S., Haddon, L., Görzig, A., and Ólafsson, K. (2011). Risks and safety on the Internet: The perspective of European children. Full Findings. LSE, London: EU Kids Online.

Blog by Dom, Carr Manor High School