Secret Facebbook Groups...??

[mattoc66]

I have just learnt that these groups exist. You can only join these groups by invitation only and will not show up in any search you make. Now as a parent of a 13 yr old girl who regularly goes on and uses this popular networking site surely these groups need to be made open or banned. One of the provisos I made before allowing her to sign up was that I could be added as a friend and monitor and check who she was adding as a friend like any concerned responsible parent would. I'm pretty sure that she hasn't joined one these groups and talking to anyone sinister but now knowing these groups exist, isn't it dangerous that a parent cant view the content and members of such groups if their child is in one??

[HARPY]

Sorry just trying to help

[redcrx]

Harpy. It was happening long before facebook secret groups started though.

[Answerprancer]

What ..by fuelling her fears even more ?

[HARPY]

They are in all the papers not just the Mail

[Answerprancer]

Yes, but I'm sure you know as well as I and thousands of others do that the DM willfully capitalises on peoples' fear and anger more than most other publications.

[mattoc66]

i think we're slightly deviating away from the subject here lol

[Answerprancer]

Maybe so, just stay away from the DM or you'll end up a gibbering wreck :-)

[Mamyalynne]

I think if you are happy that your child is old enough to go on Facebook, then you have to have the discussion and warn them of potential dangers that could possibly lurk there. Just as every time they leave the house, we can never be absolutely sure they are going where they tell us. Teenagers have always found ways to deceive parents as we all know, we were all one once.

[mattoc66]

I'm just making others aware that there are secret groups on facebook. Its not just about monitoring your kids. they could be used for other purposes such as bullying, cheating spouses, terrorism ect..

[ummmm]

I know my children's passwords.

[sherrardk]

We all use the same password for everything (but not for Paypal!).

[sophie_1003]

There was an issue with 'Secret Groups' at university. On an occasion where some students weren't penalised for handing in an assignment late a girl set up a group to campaign against it, others weren't that bothered as long as they had the ight grade but found themselves added to the group without their permission. Could see how it could be misused with young people and children (or anyone being vindictive for that matter!) and agree that widespread knowledge of these sorts of groups would be useful for parents wanting to monitor their child's Facebook use so spread the word mattoc!

[milly143]

What about her 'inbox' on Facebook. As her friend you can't see that either but she could be sending/receiving messags from anybody and you would have no idea. It's really no different to a private group.

My point is the only way to ensure her complete safety is to close her facebook account.

To be honest, this isn't the sort of thing that worries me and I think a lot of scare mongering goes on when it comes to Facebook and young people. In my opinion she's in more danger being out on her own.

[sophie_1003]

milly; I think the difference is that you can be added to these groups without even realising until you get stuff up on the News Feed; if you get a message you get a notification straight away.

[mccfluff]

i'm in a secret group on fb, its a memorial for my sister and just has myself, nieces and friends etc. its secret as its personal to us. i can't see why that would be a problem to anyone else

[milly143]

I don't want to proclaim I know everything about Facebook but I don't think you can be added to a group without knowing anything about it.

[sophie_1003]

http://gigaom.com/201...-twitter-replacement/

This article details one account of a person being 'auto-added' to a group which he then had to opt-out of; it also happened to a number of my friends in the situation I described earlier and think it is detailed in the link mattoc provided.

[milly143]

Odd. Never heard of that before. Clearly my 23.5 hours a day on facebook needs to be increased.

[sophie_1003]

http://journeymanjour...ds-to-facebook-group/
instructions here of how to do it "Auto-add your friends without the hassle of awaiting their decision" obviously it would depend on the child already being friends with someone dodgy but is concerning nonetheless.

[sophie_1003]

Haha; not implying that only 'dodgy' people set these groups up by the way!