Teens and Facebook

What's the ideal age to give children access to Facebook?

This question alone calls for another one: do they accept to wait for our authorization? They could secretly activate a Facebook account and put parents in front of a "fait accompli"... Good that parental control software exists!

Just for fun, I've checked the Facebook registration page. If you want to open an account, you have to provide your birthday; you can before click for more information "Why do I need to provide my birthday?". The answer: Providing your birthday helps make sure you get the right Facebook experience for your age. Mmhhh... any parent who reads this will have doubts!

Regarding computer activities and life in front of a computer screen, I've chosen and am trying to give my children a clear lecture: a computer is a fantastic tool, please don't forget to use it as such, not only for your games, what are the dangers related to the use of Internet services (I remember the day my daughter, at that time 8 or 9, entered on Google "kiss"), it happens so quickly you can't imagine at all...

That's why an ordinary activity like creating an email address (that was their very first and personal step on Internet, except the web game Penguin club aargh...) became a particular event and was an opportunity to give a one-to-one training or linked to a birthday (the 10th)... It all seems too much but no regrets!!

I've never accepted Play Station game - too expensive, a big and irrefutable argument; they've been waiting 2 long years for their first Nintendo DS game, I didn't mind even all their classmates had one. My boy told me in a calm way, a bit resigned, "mommy, ALL my friends do have a DS game".
I thought I was lucky (no tears, no sulking) or unfair, or not cool, not fashionable, I sometimes had doubts; but in the end I thought, they were saving their eyes and their brain this way!

For the second time in my life as a mom, I'm facing a dilemma: Facebook! 2 or 3 years ago, we all heard a TV short report saying, the French government tried to meet the major social network managers in order to start discussions for legislating on the use of social networking sites like Facebook. My children listened carefully and kept in mind "from the age of 13"! I know they're looking forward to that time and I also hear my boy saying from time to time without rebellion "ALL my friends already have a Facebook account for a long time"...

He will be 13 in 2 months.

Should I organize a family meeting (my daughter, 10 1/2, is also growing up too fast)? an intensive one-to-one training, again? Or should I try to tell him to wait until the summer holidays? And he knows above all that I'm a regular Facebook user!!!

Wait and see, I'll be pragmatic.