YOUNG children are being exposed to online dangers under their parents’ noses, according to a borough headteacher.
Paul Booth, of Ogmore Vale Primary School, found “huge numbers” of junior pupils are using social networking site Facebook, which has a minimum age of 13. He was so concerned he put the subject on the agenda of a meeting of the National Association of Head Teachers last Wednesday.
“I did a straw poll across schools and when the headteachers got together we quickly found there were children on Facebook of nursery and junior age,” he said.
“The minimum age to be on Facebook is 13, so either parents are putting them on there or they are submitting false dates of birth.
“Parents are either encouraging it, thinking it’s safe, or seeing it as a status thing, an accolade that their child has so many friends. Because the computer is in the house they feel it’s safe, but they can’t guarantee who their child is speaking to.”
The matter came to his attention when parents complained their child was a victim of cyber-bullying. “Someone had created an account in their son’s name when they weren’t prepared for him to be on Facebook,” said Mr Booth.
“I spoke to the children and said they should not be having a Facebook account under 13. I asked how many had Facebook and well over half said they did.
“I asked one girl why she was so tired and she said she had been on Facebook till 11.30pm the night before. In another instance images were posted online of a girl of 11, scantily dressed and in makeup.
“Schools are running internet safety courses with police but it’s obviously having no effect. We had a keep it safe day recently in a lot of schools, emphasising the importance of making sure the social networking site being used is closed in terms of privacy settings.
“But children are setting up accounts in other children’s names. There are a huge number of benefits like keeping in touch with relatives but I don’t belive it’s all being monitored.
“Have they thought about putting the computer in a place where everyone can see it and checking who their friends are checking their security settings?”
One mother, who asked not to be named, said she had recently allowed her 12-year-old son to use Facebook, but only with her supervision.
“It got to the point where he was the only one of his friends not allowed to use it,” she said.
“He just uses it to chat to pals. I know his password and I check it regularly.”