Dilemmas about “Facebook” in MacedoniaSome youngsters don’t want parental control on their profile
21.12.2010
In Macedonia there is debate about the relationship between parents and the presence of children on Internet social network Facebook.
There’s no special research on this subject, but BBC tried to ask few users of the network, parents and children.
Youngsters’ answers are various. One boy categorically defends his privacy on the network.
“I wouldn’t like my parents to see whatever on my profile. Privacy is very important to me whether it’s my mother, father, brother, generally I don’t want them to have any access to my comments related to girls or something else.”
The girl that BBC asked had milder stance about her parents’ eventual curiosity. With the help of her knowledge about “Facebook” security tools:
“Yes, I would accept them as friends. If there’s something that I don’t want them to see, I would make that invisible for the parent.”
Dragi Zmijanac, Executive director of the NGO First Children’s Embassy in the World Megjashi doesn’t hide that he spends time on Faceook.
Zmijanac is a father of three children but he says that he was friend on the network with only one of his daughters:
“I certainly think that there’s no need to take a look on her profile, I just want to stay informed about the things she posts, as well as I am transparent with my profile, I want my daughter to be informed about what I post on my profile. I find it very important about the trust between the parent and the child.”
Dragi Zmijanac says he has absolute access to his daughter’s profile, as well as she has access to his profile.
BBC asked him what‘s his message for the people who think that the Facebook profile is private space and don’t let their parents to take a look on it?
I would recommend to visit the web site 'Safe Internet' (www.crisp.org.mk) because there are concrete and useful guidelines how much should be cautious today in terms of using modern communication systems and how children and parents, from ignorance can be victims of attack in their privacy by adults.”
That Facebook has become a significant phenomenon in Macedonia demonstrates the fact that the Directorate for Personal Data Protection has appointed an officer to be responsible for contacts with the social network.
So if parental advisory lacks in some occasions for which Zmijanac was talking assistance may be requested by this body.
Translated by: Petar Todorovski, volunteer at FCEW Megjashi
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