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With Facebook pretty much controlling your online life, it’s home to a varied audience. Some of which are just plain perverted, others are young children that shouldn’t even be on the social networking site in the first place because of it’s “13 years old and above” rule.

With teenages and children being raised in this technology orientated world, it’s remarkably easy for kids to stay ahead of the game in terms of staying connected with friends online. From just using a fake date of birth to using a whole fake identity to get around being monitored, teenagers are taking rather drastic steps to avoid policing of their online activies.

Although these fake accounts can be used to bypass “the system”, many people using fake accounts use them for other purposes such as anonymous bullying and taunting towards friends and others.

Many children use school facilities to access their fake accounts as well. Harriet, aged 14 admits, “I have two.”

However, after she upset a fellow student on the social network by posting what was “meant as a joke”, her mother banned her from using the site altogether.

“I tell everyone my new name and get loads of friends as soon as,” said Harriet. “My mum is on Facebook and she’d see if my name was up. I don’t do it on our computer at home, only at ICT in school and on my iPhone. It’s not as good on the iPhone for seeing pictures, but you can use it late at night in bed. You can’t not be on it, or you just don’t have friends.”

Lying about your age online is not something that’s new, many have done it for years whether it’s to join Facebook or to gamble online.

Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerburg, has said that he would be reviewing the terms and conditions so that they comply with laws outside of the US, because the “no under 13s” rule is technically only applicable to the US because there’s no legislation here in the UK to stop a person of any age using the site.

What are your thoughts on Social Networking? Is it good or bad? Leave a comment below.