Using Facebook has some disadvantages. One disadvantage of using Facebook is that it exposes teens to some inappropriate materials that are usually found in teen dating groups in Facebook. One Facebook group that exposes teens to explicit and potentially dangerous content is the popular "Teen Dating and Flirting" group.
According to The Washington Post, this Facebook group is open to all age groups and is filled with cyberbullying, pornography, as well as suggestive pictures or videos of teens. Teens and adults who are pretending to be teens can rate and comment on the pictures posted by other teens. The comments usually turn into bullying and scary requests for further contact with the posters.
For these reasons, some advocacy groups are asking Facebook to remove teen dating groups like "Teen Dating and Flirting". Unfortunately, Facebook is unable to put all of these pages down.
The focus on moderating these Facebook groups intensified this week because of the disappearance of 13-year-old Nicole Lovell, a frequent visitor of teen dating groups. She was a victim of cyberbullying in one of the groups before she disappeared in January.
However, not all teen dating groups are harmful. One Facebook group created by a boy named Jordan do not have any cyberbullying and sexual content and can actually be used by teens to communicate and talk about things that they can only discuss online. This exclusive FB group for teens even has a hotline number for the National Suicide Prevention.
Safe Search Kids has some advice for parents who do not want their children to become victims of teen dating groups in Facebook. "Parents who openly communicate with their children are more likely to receive the same approach in response. It is critical that your teenager feels safe in talking to you, because fear of punishment can result in isolated or rebellious behavior."
