Facebook To Lower Age Restriction To Under 13

PA

Facebook is planning to lower its age restriction to allow under-13s to use the site, according to reports.

The Mail claims the social networking giant wants parents to make the decision about whether their children should be allowed to chat online.

If true, this would appear to be a case of locking the stable door after the horse has bolted as more than 7.5 million children under the age of 13 already use Facebook by lying to get around its restrictions.

The Mail reports that, in 2012, Facebook filed a patent that would make this process more legitimate, by seeking approval from, and handing the controls of the account to, the child's parent.