Networking for the under-twelves

Today I had to honour a promise I made to my eleven year old son; the promise of allowing him to have a Facebook account.  Facebook by its nature is a networking site and for several months Cain has been asking me if he could join.  Whilst he was still at primary/middle school, I used the excuse that he was too young and that none of his friends would be using it, so what was the point in him joining up as he would have nobody to speak to.  Things have now changed.  He is now in his third or fourth week at secondary school and the subject has obviously been discussed amongst his new pals. Damn.

So it was with great trepidation and reluctance that I sat at his computer in the dining room and logged into the chosen networking site.  With a little fibbery and adjustments to various stipulations, we finally logged into Facebook.  There was a point when it looked like I might have to receive all his messages on my iphone as they would not accept his email address.  After a little fiddling and fuddling, a new email address was created and I can now rest assured that I will not be receiving messages from Luke, Michael, Jamie and Adam along with the rest of the class at his new school. The mind boggles!

Restrictions in place, stern words of advice on appropriate behaviour given, my little man is now entering the world of networking.  Myself, his older brother and sisters have been added as friends so we will be watching every word that is written on his page. 

 God help anyone who steps out of line!