Networking - you and your children (bebo.com)

Member Name: mikeh1962

Product:	bebo.com
Date:	27/09/09 (14 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Can be fun - makes friends

Disadvantages: Can be used for bullying, and 'odd people'

Hi

First of all, I have to say that I do not use this site, but my young son does. Hopefully you will carry on reading!

As has been said in a few of the reviews, you do get some 'odd' people on these sites and it can be difficult to monitor what your children are doing.

At a recent meeting about the internet, held by the local police, we were advised to join the same sites as our children and become their 'friends'. Some of them may find this fun - to be a friend with mum or dad - others may not, but try. This way you have access to their homepage and are able to monitor - to some extent - what they are doing on the site, who are their friends and who is trying to contact them.

Whilst it can't show everything they are up to, it may just give you a 'heads up' on something amiss. Also try to chat to them about what they are doing on it, if you show interest, they may well open up a bit more that if you are showing disapproval all the time!

I recently went on a course on 'How to parent teenagers' and the presenter has a 15 year old daughter. A lot of their communication is through Facebook - at least they are communicating, which is better than nothing, as she says.

Hope this helps.

Summary: Can be good if used carefully and monitored by parents