Is it okay for an 11 year old to have an AIM account?

Question

So my 11 year old daughter has her own email (on yahoo of course!) with Yahoo instant messenger. She really really wants to have AOL instant messenger (AIM) so I had gone through the process of signing her up. However, when we reached the end it turns out you need to be 13 years old to have an AIM account, so I told her "sorry."

Every day she tells me how "ALL" her friends have AIM. "Why can't I have one, Mom?" I tell her to use her email or Yahoo IM but she says none of her friends have Yahoo IM and all she wants to be able to do is chat with her friends.

I explained that I don't think it's right to lie about your age on any application. Whether you are signing or clicking, you are verifying that the information you provided is accurate, which means her friends (or their parents) are just outright lying.

Am I being too strict? Why DOES AIM have the 13 years old age restriction?

Answer 1

Okay,

when I was 11, I had an AIM account. All I did was chat to my friends on it, and I listened to my parents and didn't add strangers. It was pretty innocent. I think if you don't feel right about it, don't let her, but explain why. If you say no, and don't give her a reason, then she will be upset, quite rightfully, but if you give her a valid reason, and say you're sorry, then she'll just have to get over it. Just remember, that her friends have AIM. She might be feeling left out, and I think you'll be surprised at how many of her friends actually do have AIM. I think if she is safe about it, then it's alright.

Answer 2

I had an AIM account when I was 14. However, my dad required that I give him the password. I don't know if he ever signed on as me, but I knew he was monitoring what I was talking about because he would give me lectures about "my language."



I didn't have a cellphone or a myspace at the time, so AIM was the only communication I had with my friends outside of school.



I was sneaky as a teen anyway. I don't resent my dad for being so involved.

AIM probably has the restriction because there are a lot of bad people out there on the internet, preying on kids and teens. AIM actually has "open chatrooms" where you can just go in and there's dozens of people chatting about innapropriate things. Just a warning.



*btw* do you know how many kids lie to be on FB? You have to be 13 to use FB but there are probably hundreds of thousands of underage users.

Answer 3

Isn't the age for Yahoo! 13 also?



There is not reason for a child that young to have an email, instant messaging account, or any internet accounts of their own. Even sites specifically made for children should be closely monitored by parents. She is just young enough to get herself in trouble with that much internet access, not because of her doing anything, but you have to think about other people online too.



I wouldn't have allowed Yahoo! either if I was you.



All her friends having one is up to their parents, that doesn't matter at all.



EDIT: I have kids from my church that are that young as Facebook friends. Honestly it concerns me to see how they operate online. Kids are carefless and 11 is just too young. If you let her have it just be sure to keep an eye on what she's doing and who's talking to her.

Answer 4

I understand your trying to teach her a good lesson... but honestly in this day in age this is how kids communicate.. remember back when you were younger and you wanted to chat on the phone with your friends.. well imagine your mom telling you 'no your to young' even though Everyone you knew were allowed to talk on the phone..



I would just let her do it.. but make sure you have all the account info such as the passwords.. and for my child we will be setting up the computer in an open area of the house and will most likely install software so we know that shes logging into and looking at.

Answer 5

Gmail or hotmail... to get in contact with family. Skype and oovoo are okay . Just make sure shes only adding people who she knows!!! Youtube is fine if she doesnt watch unapproipriate videos. Make sure she stays off chatroulette!!! dirty people on there!! haha though you dont need an account for that. Face book could be okay as long as your mom has one to friend her and make sure everythings private.

Answer 6

almost all websites have the restriction. it doesnt specify why. everyone "lies" about it, its not important at all! and in my opinion i think she's right. why not? you could loosen up. your "overprotectiveness" shows that when she gets one.. you'll problably stalk her friends list on it. meaning you dont really have anything to worry about, you'll be up in her buisness and she cant really make any mistakes with it. its almost the exact thing as yahoo messenger. reeelaaaax! :)

Answer 7

I think it's fine. There is a setting which you can use to save all conversations if you're worried. You aren't lying about her age if you're the one clicking okay - you're the one who signed up anyway so it really is your account.. if that makes you feel better.

Answer 8

yes you are too strict like my mom not letting me play rated M games

because they only want maturish people