Monitoring your kids on Facebook? That’s so 2009

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Several consumer advocates actually recommend exposing their kids to social media sites earlier than age 12, when they’re more receptive to hearing lessons about online etiquette and safety.

For example, Levey links her kids’ devices to her iTunes account so she’s aware of any program they download. She also requires that her kids "friend" her on every program and follow certain ground rules: protect your passwords, set your privacy controls and never transmit inappropriate pictures or words.

Levey thinks a big hurdle for parents is getting over the idea that they are invading their kids’ privacy by monitoring online activity. In fact, she said, it can be the kid’s first lesson that nothing online is truly private anyway.

"If they want privacy, they should write in a journal and hide it under their mattress," Levey said.

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