Facebook is the social media juggernaut most often seen in the news for either its history of explosive growth, or more currently privacy concerns. But as the company has matured on the market, its growth has slowed and Facebook users base has become less apt to use it as often as it did in previous years.
In order to increase its reach and produce results, Facebook needs users to be active, clicking on ads and talking to friends. But how can Facebook gain more users when it already has a network of 1 billion(Facebook users) and declining interest across the globe? Facebook already has the answer: get younger.
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How Can Facebook Gain More Users
How young is too young as per Facebook?
While teenagers and young adults already make up the primary audience of Facebook users, Facebook believes that the next step is to market itself to an even younger crowd.
Currently, the sign up age for Facebook is 13 years old (Read more about Facebook For Underage – A Review). But as rumors swirl that the social media company plans to lower its age, what should parents know in order to protect their children?
Protecting your children online as one of the Facebook users
Social media sites like Facebook are used by most teenagers across the globe, and its likely that your son or daughter will eventually be amongst its many users.
But if your children are young, you might still be trying to protect them from the dangers of heavy online usage. The best form of protection is education.
Children need to know that it is important to protect private information online, and giving away too much information about their personal lives can cause financial, security, and even relationship problems.
Is Facebook helping children?
Even with those who say that Facebook is preying on young children in order to capitalize on their usage and information, there are opponents who believe that early access to Facebook is helping children.
Certainly, we are living in a much more digital age than even a decade ago. Information is now traveling almost instantaneously, and it is important for children to learn how to receive and transmit information in this manner.
Early exposure to Facebook can help children to become oriented in a new social media driven world.
Is Facebook right for you?
No matter which side of the story you believe, its most important for parents to make their own decision on whether to allow their child to use Facebook. Sharing your life with others is a responsibility no matter how old you are, and children’s innocence often allows them to fall victim to attacks online.
But social media like Facebook is also a valuable learning tool, and it can give children who use it early a leg up on the competition. Should Facebook Be Courting Users Under The Age Of 13? Please comment below for your answers.