Although the online social networking service Facebook is all the rage, First Lady Michelle Obama is putting her foot down when it comes to her two girls joining the craze.
Facebook has been around since 2004 and boasts some 600 million users. Anyone over the age of 13 can join the Website. Last year, it was estimated that 41.6 percent of the U.S. population has a Facebook account, but the first lady is adamant about the fact that her daughters, 12-year-old Malia and 9-year-old Sasha, won't be added to these statistics.
In a recent one-on-one interview with NBC-TV 'Today' show host Matt Lauer, Mrs. Obama did not mince words when she expressed the following: "I think we're lucky that there are a lot of real constraints, things like Secret Service and stuff like that," she joked before seriously adding, "I'm not a big fan of young kids having Facebook. It's not something they need; it's not necessary."
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When Mrs. Obama was asked whether she will allow her daughters to open an account on the social networking service site after they leave the White House, she answered, "It depends on when we leave and how old they are."
Interestingly enough, Mrs. Obama has found quite a bit of anti-Facebook supporters who are rallying around her decision to keep the first daughters off the site. Child safety groups have argued that Facebook does more harm that good and can promote cyber bullying and gossip. They also claim that Facebook is a major distraction from learning, fosters hate speech, undermines the value of interpersonal relationships, and is even a safe haven for stalkers and pedophiles.
'Nough said.