You have probably already read it but here is a link for additional ideas on the subject. Take what you need.

Here is a link that might be useful: wistechnology.com

Wow! This is going to be tough as it may be a little late to reel in the line without a battle.

I guess once you get your information and you prepare for the repercussions you might have to just jump in to it. I can assure this is more important than you think. It is not really about the computer it is about control. Remember your the parent and not a friend. How you handle this will reverberate regularly in the future, at least until they begin to realize how "not dumb" you are.

Having been the parent of three teen children, two girls, I have been through it too like so many others.

I found the word "No!", financial blackmail, and just not giving in worked best for me. After a time the kids came down off their high horse, became more reasonable and were more open to communication, discussions and agreements.

I really wish you success in the shortest period possible. It's a tough time. You will feel like an ogre, but as my Dad shared with me it's just part of being a good parent.

Good luck!

DA

It's just like the TV or video games you limit usage and I agree with using no. If I had that problem and they didn't accept NO, I would lock the computer with a password or take a part out of it. They would not get the best of me.

I just recently had to have a heart to heart with several of my family members, many of them adult and even older than me about the use and dangers of facebook and social networking sites. I took my time and explained to them exactly what facebook and those sites really are, this is something that most do not even consider and especially the teens, once I fully explained it I was surprised to hear them say they would be removing their accounts.

the secret is to follow the money, why did anyone create facebook or any of the social networking sites? why would someone create this huge vast playground for you to use absolutely free, why would they spend LOTS of their money to buy servers to host the sites and buy tons of bandwidth to keep the going? would they do that for free for nothing? NO not just not but Hell no, follow the money! Those sites are set up for one reason only they are data mining sites they harvest as much info as possible and sell it for big bucks. Just start to think about how many thousands of people who have joined and each one gave their email addy their personal info their pictures and that most treasured thing their friends list with lots more of those precious commodities, email addresses. they are actually genius in how they have it set up one person signs on then it sends out to all their contacts to get them to join and on and on just gobbling up all that precious info. What would they do with that info well that is the gold standard today, huge companies are out there that do nothing but data mining compiling information and they pay well for it. Not to mention all those spammers that buy those lists. So when you start to see the true picture of what it is and why it is you see it is not the happy little playground they want you to see but instead a greedy info stealing company making money. They really do not care about your privacy, they really do not care that the pages are written poorly and it is extremely easy for hackers to gain access and take over pages and insert click jacking trojans which then infect hundreds of people, they don't care because people keep on coming like they are getting their drug fix and no matter what nasty stuff they have to wade through they want that fix! it is definitely addicting.

Where I really got my female relatives to have shivers was when I asked them if they had put up pictures of their precious little girls on their pages? yes? well understand that now those precious babies pics are spread all over the child porn sites and you know what someone is doing with them. If you put pictures on the internet they will be taken and they will be used in manners you don't want to think about and there is nothing you can do other than NOT putting them there. Because the next thing you might say on your facebook page is what mall you shopped at or which high school football game you went to and now they know where you are located even though you did not put your address on there, they are smart they know how to find that info. I had hoped it would give them shivers to think of what was happening to those pictures and it did and one of my nieces went and immediately deleted her account and removed all her pictures, they are out there of course but at least she gets it now. And hopefully if we try to explain these dangers calmly and sensibly more will get it.
Just go to google and search the dangers of facebook, and then google how to hack facebook and how to create a facebook virus, if that does not make you stop and think then really I just don't get it.

Thanks. It's not too late, only because the rules have been clear.

The thing about "No" is that it's not as easy as we think, except for pure on/off. Reason is that now there's always a legitimate school reason to go on, but they always end up surfing over somewhere else "for a minute" - too irresistable.

That's why I'm looking into technically restricting.

Another thing is that while most of our kids are good and "above average" (as G. Keillor likes to say), the internet is still too much of an open door into the home. One facebook "friend" can drive a parent nuts. In the old days, someone phoned and you knew who was calling. These days, who knows.

I'm "so cruel", I know.

Ravencagen, that point of view usually gets plenty of pushback. "You're in the stone ages. Get with it. Etc.)

You're right about the data mining, in addition to all those little facebook "surveys" that can easily be used (with little programs) to gain access to personal profiles. You're also absolutely right that it can be akin to an addiction for some....(like my coffee-drinking, I suppose!)

that is what I was expecting to hear but I was very surprised after explaining to them what data mining was and having them look at some things on google I did not get the you are in the dark ages line, but they know I am heavy into computers and computer security so maybe they considered that (and the fact I am the one they have to call when they have a problem). I have to say I was pleasantly surprised.
And as you said if you have good kids with good smarts they can understand the issues.

those little third party apps and stuff like say Christmas Cheer for example if you read the fine print you see just how much info you are signing away! Plus most of them that put out those 3rd party apps and games for facebook have no listing of their terms of service or privacy policies anywhere.

".....but they always end up surfing over somewhere else 'for a minute'-too irresistable"

The only irresistible urge that would come to fruition in my home would be my irresistible urge to yank the plug out of the wall.

I'm without a doubt hardnosed, but absolutely not abusive. If one of my children was on the Internet at a site that they were not supposed to be, ever or at that time, besides the above I know how I would respond. I would shut down all systems and restore one right next to Dad's easy chair in the living room. Above it on the wall would be a piece of poster board. On the board in broad felt pen would be the report, "Established (date) because you couldn't so I did". Then I would let them stew.

DA

Good for you Dave.

you might google and look through some of the windows login options with the net commands

to give you and idea or two...
from a cmd window read what it says after you type
net accounts

then also perhaps
net help

Watchdog does a great job and you can install it on 3 computers. You can set a total time per day, restrict logon times, restrict sites, and even log all sites and application launches.

Here is a link that might be useful: Watchdog software

Watchdog is not suitable for Vista according to the download page from the link above. In fact it references Windows 2000 and XP only as suitable operating systems.

If you decide to try installing perhaps you should create a Restore point before doing so.

very timely article to share with those who just MUST use facebook and twitter etc.

Here is a link that might be useful: cnet article

So good to read this here. It is hard to say no and set limits - but very important to do it. I am seeing so many letting very young kids have total access from the privacy of their rooms. Just major trouble ahead, IMO.

I think there was even a thread here, not too long ago, about buying a laptop for internet for a very young child because they "had too" - geeze!!!