FACEBOOK ADDICTION

I can now see why Facebook will continue to be a global phenomenon.  Whilst it remains a constant source of mystery and frustration for me that is certainly not the case for my children.  It’s their thing and they have no fear of rejection.

I know there is an age restriction, but it has been very difficult to keep my youngest son off Facebook.  He is always hovering over the shoulder of his siblings and recently, after a huge amount of pressure from him I agree to let him have a go at having his own account.  My two older ones thought it would be fine and my youngest finally managed to wear me down after a majorly efficient and targeted campaign involving the slow but sure breaking down of my will.  I have had to endure months of “but so-and-so’s on it” and “she’s had it for ages” and “why don’t you ask their mum about it then” and “all my friends are on it and I’m not and you’re ruining my life” and on and on it went until I gave in.  On the basis that I could look at what he was doing at any time and he wasn’t to use it very much I agreed to let him have a go.  He got bored of “Club Penguin” and is treating it like just another online video game where you have to collect as many friends as possible and then try to avoid being accused of becoming a stalker.

He’s already infuriated my daughter “can you stop putting photos up that I haven’t approved and STOP asking my friends what they’re doing….it’s really embarrassing”.  Well, thanks to “Farmville” he appears well on his way to picking up an unhealthy addiction.  He rushes down in the morning and simply has to go on it in case his strawberries die or his apples need picking.  All fairly harmless stuff it seems but it feels a little insidious….

After tending to his land he cruises around his mates (which are made up mostly of his brother and sister’s friends who all think it’s cute that he’s joined).  His mate in Australia had the following message on his page: “hey u gays, get on Facebook”, followed by “soz i meant guys, soz”

Anyway, I’m keeping a close eye on how to proceed.  I know he’s too young, but quite a lot of his mates are using their siblings Facebook to send messages – maybe they should set up a younger section – it’s not really appropriate for him to be looking at his brother’s stuff BUT it’s a great way for me to sneak in and check out what’s going on….