Is Facebook A Family Affair?

Scott (left), 18, must settle for posting stupid pictures such as this one taken in his Physics class, since his mother added him on Facebook.

TEMPLE HILLS, Md. -- For many high school and college students, Facebook friend requests have taken on a whole new face – the disapproving face of a parent.

Ever since the popular networking site has expanded its availability to anyone capable of typing their first and last name, an influx of people beyond the realm of partying college-goers have signed up, including professors, professionals, pre-teens, and yes, parents.

For high school senior Ricky Scott, discovering his mother was a part of the Facebook community while using her computer in January was “the fuck?”-ish.

“I don’t post anything on Facebook now,” he said. “I used to wild out on my statuses, saying ‘fuck this’ and ‘fuck that.’ Now, I just say stuff like, ‘I got into [UMD] College Park.’ I don’t use profanity, because my mother’s downstairs, and she’ll see it and be like ‘What? What is this?’”

Gone are the days of parents being technologically un-savvy, asking their children’s assistance for such menial computer-related tasks such as opening Microsoft Word or sending an E-mail on Yahoo.

Privacy settings have propelled from "option" status to "imperative, or my mom will beat my ass" status.

Scandalous profile pictures are likely to be replaced by wholesome head shots. Wall-to-wall flirting will likely be curtailed. The overall openness, promiscuity, and foul mouths of Facebook youth is now in jeopardy.

According to Scott, there are two reasons for the increase in parental presence on Facebook: nosiness and networking.

“Since they know we’re not on MySpace anymore, they hear ‘Facebook’ on the news and want to check up on us,” Scott said. “They also want to keep in touch with friends, family, and co-workers. And hook-ups for the single ones.”