In a recent survey of 2,000 parents by LAPTOP Magazine, 55 percent of U.S. parents admitted to using Facebook for digital snooping* into the lives of their children.

    Another 5 percent would use Facebook if someone taught them how to use it. The most common tactic for the digital snooping is checking out the most recent status updates.

    Other methods of spying on their children included reading posts on the wall as well as checking out pictures that have been tagged* with the child’s name. Some parents have even logged into a friend’s account to know more about their child’s digital life.

    Another 11 percent of the parents polled have created an account for the sole reason of tracking* their children. Of the parents that attempted to send a friend request to their child, about 4 percent were denied*. When asked why they used Facebook to spy on their children, 24 percent of parents claimed that it was the only way to find out what their child was doing.

    A recent study by Consumer Reports in June found that there are over 7 million children under the age of 13 on Facebook. Of that group, 5 million are under the age of 10 and rarely* receive any parental supervision while on the site.

    While Facebook’s official policy only allows people ages 13 and up to use the social networking service, the age gate to becoming a member can easily be falsified* to open an account. Only 18 percent of parents interviewed with children aged 10 or under became Facebook friends with their children to monitor the page. Even fewer parents (10 percent) sat down with their kids to have a serious talk on the safety of social networks and the Internet.

    (SD-Agencies)