Dear Lydia,

My daughter will start high school in August. She is not a disciple but is a good kid. Since school is out for the summer, she is begging to join Facebook, a social networking thing on the Internet, to stay in touch with her school friends. Should I let her? I am scared of predators and all the things I hear about that can happen with young girls via the Internet.

Cautious Mom

Dear Cautious Mom,

I understand your concern. The first thing I would suggest you do is get a Facebook account yourself and familiarize yourself with how it functions. You may decide your child is not mature enough for this kind of interaction or you may decide it is an acceptable option for her at this point in her life.

If you choose to allow her this PRIVILEGE, I would have some rules. Here are a few suggestions:

• You have her access code and free reign to look at all of her writings and mail received any time you want.

• Her Internet access is in easy view of one of the parents or adults in the home.

• Since it is a privilege and not a right, you can take it away or edit it at any time.

I would also urge you to check your daughter’s Facebook account at least once a week as long as your daughter is a part of your home and your responsibility. You can even use Facebook as a mentoring tool to help her learn how to communicate, what kinds of things are good to reflect on and participate in as well as how to choose friends.

Your daughter is living in a world where most of her friends have Internet access. Young adults in the campus ministry in our congregation are on Facebook and other social networking sites and communicate with friends all over the world. I have learned a lot about many of the young people that are my Facebook friends. It can be a very bonding thing for the Kingdom. This technology and other freedoms will most likely be a part of her adult life. Whether she uses it to God’s glory or to her own demise will eventually be her decision.

Please read the previous Lydia column about the dangers of the Internet for young minds. I’m proud of you for being a concerned and caring Mom.

Love,

Lydia

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