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Kids online getting younger and younger

Surveys cited in a CNN report on the online behavior of children say that more and more children are accessing online social networks earlier and earlier, as software knowledge becomes common at younger ages.

While many social networking websites like Facebook and MySpace impose lower limits on the age of participants, the information is difficult, if not impossible to verify. Children as young as 10 and 11 can simply lie about their age and gain full access to the networks - which may contain content that parents would find objectionable.

Doug Gross, writing for CNN, cites two studies by Pew Internet Research which say that 38 percent of kids aged 12 to 14 have an account on one or more online social networking websites. According to Gross' report, experts worry that heavy social networking use at such young ages could contribute to internet addiction in later life.

There are a number of dangers inherent in underage access to social networking sites, such as sexual predation and scammers who tempt the unsuspecting into signing up for for-pay services.