Half of Parents Join Facebook to Friend Their Kids

Did you sign up for Facebook to keep tabs on your child’s social media activity? If so, you’re not alone. In a study conducted by Education Database and reported by Mashable, one out of two parents surveyed said that they joined the social media network in part to find out what their kids were up to online.

Though the article seems to suggest that parents are infringing on their children’s privacy by virtually befriending them, many child advocates and parenting experts agree that checking up on kids’ Internet activity is a vital part of 21st century parenting. The study revealed that almost half of parents view their kids’ Facebook profile daily while only 11% say they look at it just once a month.

Is friending your child on Facebook “creepy” as some suggest, or simply responsible parenting?