7.5 million Facebook Users Under 13, In Violation With Terms Of Service
Pieter posted in "News". 13 years, 7 months ago
Facebook’s terms of service require users to be at least 13 years old (kids might argue there should be maximum age limit as well to restrict their parents). If someone under the age of 13 signs up for Facebook, the minor will be presented with “Sorry, you are ineligible to sign up for Facebook.” Now even though there’s no mention of the minimum age requirement in this message, 7.5 million kids have figured out they could just as easily enter a fake birthday and create an account anyway.
Consumer Reports’ latest State of the Net survey also reveals that among this group of minors, more than 5 million were 10 and under. Jeff Foxx, Technology Editor for Consumer Reports, added that it was even more troubling to find out a majority of parents of kids 10 and under seemed largely unconcerned by their children’s use of the site.
Using Facebook presents children and their friends and family with safety, security and privacy risks. In the past year, the use of Facebook has exposed more than five million online U.S. households to some type of abuse including virus infections, identity theft, and—for a million children—bullying, the survey shows.
Do you think age restrictions are absolutely necessary on a social network? Or should they require users to be even older than 13?
Source: ConsumerReports.org via Mashable.
