Indore minors befriend Facebook

INDORE: Twelve-year old, Samar Agrawal is having a Facebook account of his own for the past two years now. Though his parents still think that he has been spending more time on computer of late due to heavy study pressure! This is just one of the many cases in city where children who are yet to turn teenagers are going on a 'liking' spree. Though the policy of the site does not permit anyone below the age of 13 to have an account, but the children in Indore seem to be caring two hoots for all that.
"Most of my friends and classmates had their accounts on Facebook, so I created one for myself too. It was not that difficult. I just had to select a wrong year while filing my birth date. A little lie on cyber space is okay," says Samar, adding his parents have no inkling of his activities in virtual world.
While 8{+t}{+h} grade student Yash Vora cannot use Facebook account without being 'poked' much by his parents. "I have had the account on Facebook since I was in standard 6{+t}{+h}," says 12-year old Yash, adding "I created it to chat with my elder sister who stays abroad. But mostly, I play games on Facebook. I go to my friend's place with internet connection when I am not allowed to use net at home."
Ishan Chouksey (8) has multiple accounts on the social networking site.
"My mother scolds me at times for overusing computer and Facebook, but I enjoy playing games online and uploading pictures online. I created three to four accounts just for the sae of fun," he adds.
Seven-year old Reene Dahima and her 9-year old brother Jeet Dahima, both own accounts on Facebook but it seems their mother Garima Dahima is successfully able to keep a tab on their usage of the Internet.
"I helped them create the account myself for the fear of if they get the accounts created without my knowledge I won't be able to monitor them. I have the passwords of both their accounts and that was the condition I let them create it" says Dahima.
Psychologist, Sheela Kuntal Chaturvedi has some serious concern over this issue though.
"I am a mother of 8-year old girl, and don't let her access Facebook much, though she has an account which I created for her. I am very strict about its use and timings. I would suggest that parents should open up to their children and have their social networking usage monitored. It is safer that way, and will also save the children from over exposure to information," says Chaturvedi.