Re: MSN/Windows messenger: safe for 13 year old?

On 13/08/2005 Webrex wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I have been asked by a relative about MSN messenger. The person in
> question has a 13 year old daughter who wants to use MSN (all her
> friends use it). The parent has banned MSN after a letter from the
> girl's school saying "we don't encourage the use of MSN Messenger".
>
> The parent clearly wants me to back her up in her argument with her
> daughter that MSN Messenger is risky, but it's not something I have
> ever really had to worry about. And, to be honest, I'm just not
> convinced that a ban is appropriate. But then, I don't have a 13
> years old daughter.
>
> If anyone here has and knowledge, experience and/or opinion on the
> above I would very much like to hear it.


It's just another means of communicating so if she is allowed to use a
'phone or the Internet un-supervised then in *theory* it's little
different.

The problems can arise I think when your 'address' becomes public,
perhaps passed around amongst friends and then passed on to others who
may not be friends. Eventually she may get inappropriate calls,
although there are facilities to block calls.

I remember when I used NetMeeting in the days when it worked via
servers and getting streams of calls from people I didn't know, I
stopped using it in the end.

I haven't had any 'spam' calls on Skype, NetMeeting or MSN Messenger
since I started using them again, others in here who have been using
them for longer may be able to comment.

I think given a sensible kid it's no more risk than a 'phone, she needs
to know she can go to her parents for advice if somebody inappropriate
gets hold of her address.


--
Jeff Gaines - Damerham Hampshire UK
http://www.jgaines.me.uk/
Using XanaNews 1.17.5.9
.

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