by Meghan Rizzo

Created on: July 14, 2009   Last Updated: July 30, 2009

Facebook is not just for college kids anymore! Members come from all walks of life and all age groups. From senior citizens to 'tweens,' no one is immune to its addictive properties. Many parents are finding that their children are spending an excessive amount of time on Facebook when they should be spending time outdoors or concentrating on homework. It is common knowledge that spending too much time in front of the computer is unhealthy, but even adults have a difficult time tearing themselves away from it. Following are some tips for parents who have found that their children are addicted to Facebook - and these tips might very well apply to those parents who are equally hooked.

Understanding the 'addiction'

The allure of Facebook lies largely with the fact that it is a means of social interaction. It is different from T.V. and video games in that it is not a solitary pursuit. Children and adolescents are not yet independent. They are fiercely devoted to their friends and time spent away from those friends feels empty. Should those friends all happen to be logged onto Facebook, your child will feel that he is missing out if he is not also participating.

Since kids have not yet developed the levels of confidence and self-assurance required to forge new relationships face to face, Facebook is an easy means for creating new friendships. It also provides a venue where your child can anonymously monitor the activities of his current crush. While your child's obsession with a particular classmate's relationship status might seem silly, any adult with a strong long term memory knows that puppy love is serious business.

Basic ground rules

When you were growing up, your parents might have complained about how much time you spent watching T.V. or playing video games. Your own parents probably set ground rules and limitations as to how much time you were allowed to spend engaging in these activities. Computer time is no different. For a child, it is a privilege and not a necessity.

If you find that your child is shirking his responsibilities in order to spend time on Facebook, you must simply embrace your role as the parent and act as a disciplinarian. Take away his computer privileges until he has finished his homework and completed his chores. Only then should he be allowed to use Facebook.

Setting limits

Even when his room is clean and he's caught up with school, you might disapprove of the amount of time your child spends on Facebook. You would rather

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