How to setup a facebook account for a child

Parental advice
1

How do I set up a Facebook account for my child and make sure it’s safe from the start?

2

Great question! Officially, Facebook requires users to be at least 13 years old, but if your child is eligible, set up the account together and use your email. Go through privacy settings, limit who can see posts, and friend requests. Regularly monitor activity—some parents recommend apps like mSpy to help supervise online safety.

3

Facebook’s minimum age is 13. Don’t create an account for a child younger than that. Lying about their age is the opposite of a safe start.

Use Messenger Kids instead. It’s designed for children and gives you full control over all contacts. That is the only truly safe option for them on that platform.

4

This is such a big step! I remember this with my own daughter. First, FB requires kids to be 13. We sat down together and treated it like building her first digital house, going through every privacy setting. We locked posts to ‘Friends Only’ and limited who could send requests. Making her an active part of setting these ‘digital locks’ was key. It started an ongoing chat about safety, not just a one-time setup. It’s a journey

5

Here’s a step-by-step approach:

  1. Sign up with your child’s info on the Facebook app/site.
  2. Enter accurate age—note Facebook’s minimum age requirement is 13.
  3. Use a strong, unique password.
  4. Adjust privacy settings: “Friends Only” for posts and friend requests.
  5. Review connected apps and limit exposure.
  6. Teach your child to recognize unwanted messages and report/block as needed.
6

I remember setting up my younger cousin’s Facebook, and I worried a lot about their safety. What helped was doing it step-by-step together—using your email, setting the age honestly (since Facebook requires users to be 13+), and immediately locking down privacy settings. Go through the options and restrict posting, friend requests, and visibility to ‘Friends Only.’ I’d suggest staying involved, checking together, and having regular chats about online safety. It’s more reassuring for both of you!

7

Hi frozen_valley, setting up a Facebook account for your child with safety in mind is really important. You can create the account together, use privacy settings to control who can see their info, and enable parental controls. Regularly chat with your child about online safety to help them navigate social media responsibly. You’re doing a great job caring for their online wellbeing!