Google+ for 9 year old?

[Anonymous]

My 9 year old has an email that we monitor closely. She has mostly used it to email extended family and a few close friends. Recently, she's started emailing with a wider circle of school friends and one of them sent her an invitation to join Google+. I'm not into electronic social networking so I'm very reluctant to let her start using this. Honestly, I don't even know what Google+ is (going to look that up now). I know she'll get involved eventually, but is 9 too young for this? How do you know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My 9 year old has an email that we monitor closely. She has mostly used it to email extended family and a few close friends. Recently, she's started emailing with a wider circle of school friends and one of them sent her an invitation to join Google+. I'm not into electronic social networking so I'm very reluctant to let her start using this. Honestly, I don't even know what Google+ is (going to look that up now). I know she'll get involved eventually, but is 9 too young for this? How do you know?

It is Google's version of Facebook. Would you let her make a Facebook account?

[Anonymous]

I found Google+ is more popular than Facebook in middle school kids. I guess it's largely due to the age limit for creating FB account.

[Anonymous]

Gmail also has an age restriction. Of course my child's school requests (not requires) it so the kids can access docs from home and school on google docs leaving parents with a dilemma. My policy on Google + would be the same as facebook.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thanks to the PPs. I looked it up quickly and it seems like kids are supposed to be 13 for Google+ and also for Gmail. I read some story where an 11 year old signed up for Google+, was asked his age, answered honestly and then was suddenly locked out of all Google accounts associated with that user name.

Anyway, I do not yet want her on Facebook, so I'll say no to Google+. The age restriction provides a good excuse for me to hold her off for a while.