Alarm over popular Facebook group's risque posts

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http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/singapore/story/alarm-over-popular-facebook-groups-risque-posts-20121023

Some Singaporeans as young as primary-school-going age are posting risque photos of themselves on a Facebook group. It does not stop there. They are also inviting people - even strangers - to rate their looks on a scale of 1 to 10.

Some even offer personal contact details to the last individual rating their photos. "Rate me maybe? Last comment will be my text buddy," wrote a girl who calls herself Vivian Tan and who looks no older than 10 in her self-taken shot.

The Facebook group, called "Add anyone you know 2 this group! Beat the most member group on FB! Come on!!!!!", has more than half a million members, many of whom are students.

The group, believed to have been started by an Owen Lee about five months ago, has members from overseas too. Apart from photos, members also put up posts, including rants and job ads.

What parents can do to help

PARENTS play an important role in guiding and socialising their children, said Mr Edmund Tay, a youth pastor and parent blogger who sits on the Media Literacy Council.

They should:

1. Set ground rules regarding their children's social media usage, including how much time they may spend online.
2. Advise them to set their profiles to private and educate them on the dangers of interacting with and meeting strangers.
3. Spend more time with their children so that they will feel less compelled to seek affirmation from online sources.
4. Activate Facebook's Report Abuse feature to bar young children from groups that could pose a risk.