Is yahoo answers considered a social networking site? Is it safe for a 14 yr. old to use?

Be your own judge - take a look at some of the sections and questions and see what you think. Yahoo allows people over the age of 13 to have accounts.

It's not a social networking site in the same way as Facebook or Bebo or whatever but yes, it does allow people to interact with one another. Accounts have an option to stop people from being able to send you messages or email you, and obviously, your child should NEVER post their contact details on site or respond to any request from anyone to email or message them.

To be honest, though, that's just common sense. As with all social networking sites, if the child using them has the sense to use them properly, they are safe. I don't know a single 14 year old who isn't on Facebook. My niece is 15 and she's had a Facebook for two years. Her profile settings are at the top privacy level, none of her photos are visible to anyone but her friends, she doesn't accept friend requests from anyone she doesn't already know, and nobody but her friends can interact with her in any way. Also, since I and all her other aunties have accounts and are Facebook friends with her, we can see what she's posting and would be able to tell her parents if she was posting anything inappropriate on her profile.

If you don't let teenagers start to fend for themselves a little, they never learn how to cope on their own or exercise their own judgement. In four years' time, your kid will be leaving home to go to uni and they won't have you watching over them - they need a little independence at 14.

I don't think it's considered social networking. But there are people of all ages and backgrounds on here. Some people are more sarcastic or use tones that a younger child wouldn't understand. There are also people who are mean just for the sake of being mean and your everyday troll types. I think it's possible for a 14 year old to be on Y!A but I would be sure of what she is posting and that she isn't sharing personal info with others.

Well, darling, I'm on Facebook, but I keep forgetting about it and rarely visit. I don't go to any other social networking sites...Y!A takes up enough of my free time and I'd rather not find more ways to avoid doing my work! Your goat question is still up, by the way, darling, and it has been 6 hours already. I wonder if the Yamster has figured you out, and has diabolically realized that it hurts you more to leave it up. The silence of the rodent is unnerving. The only other thing I can think of is that the Yahoo staff are busy...maybe they're all off considering my most recent appeal - the one that got "escalated." (((Princess)))

With all things, this site can be used for both good and bad. I think as long as you teach your child (and they listen) that certain things/topics are inappropriate it should be fine. I have seen some sexual/inappropriate questions, but they're generally deleted quickly. I'd let my daughter on here at 14, but I wouldn't just blindly turn away from what she's doing.

I think Yahoo Answers is ok for a 14 year old.

no way I'd allow my 14yr old on here.

spend some time in the Parenting Adolescent section and you will quickly see why. True is for PARENTS of Adolescents but kids have take it over.

So many inappropriate questions are asked, kids giving sex advise to each other which can be incorrect & trolls asking inappropriate questions.

not the kind of stuff I want my kid reading

yes it's a soical site but i think ou are being over protective! A 14 yr old should know what's right and wrong if they are trusted by a parent!

well its not supposed to be used for chatting but if you hang around long enough you start to see same people over and over again and actually start to get to know them. You can send e-mails and stuff so I guess you could network.. i dont. but go to adolescent section and see if you are comfortable with her hanging out there.. You might want to give her a good sex ed class before hand so she wont end up wondering if shes pregnant because.....

If you have to allow your kid to go on a site, something's wrong.

Just allow your kid to browse the internet. If they are 14 they should be smart enough. Let them go on Kongregate.com to start. it's a pretty good site.

yes it is although if you dont let your 14 yr old go on social networking sites i think you might be considered slightly over protective....