Introduction Facebook can be described as a social networking site where people connect with the people in their lives and make online friends. When Facebook was founded, its main objective was to help people to connect with the people who are in their lives easily. However, users of Facebook have oftentimes misused it, and thus the networking site poses several risks to its users (Freouf 1). Among the users who face the biggest risk when using Facebook are teenagers, who may be blackmailed and manipulated through Facebook. It is, therefore, the responsibility of parents to ensure that their children are not addicted to Facebook. This paper is an in-depth analysis of the risks that Facebook poses to children and the steps that parents should take to ensure that their children do not become victims of Facebook use. Background Children, mostly teenagers are increasingly becoming addicted to Facebook. This poses a threat to their welfare. For instance, some teenagers become addicted to Facebook to the extent that they are unable to concentrate on their studies. Teenagers may spend so much time on Facebook that they may be unable to complete their homework. They may also be unable to study books due to their Facebook activities. Others even go to the extent of using their mobile phones to access Facebook, which makes it easy to access the site while in class. The result of this is that the grades of these children will drastically drop, courtesy of Facebook (Ferree 1). In addition to this, sex pests and criminals have been using Facebook as a platform for reaching their victims. Cases of children being sexually molested after meeting their molesters on Facebook are common. Most of these pedophiles pose as fellow teens and post appealing photos to win the trust of their victims. In 2010, three teenagers were murdered in Colombia after their names were posted on Facebook in a list of people to be killed (Schroeder 1). It is indubitable that Facebook played a great role as a platform facilitating the murder of these teens. On the other hand, Facebook is a great platform if used for good reasons. Teenagers can use Facebook to communicate with their peers about social activities. This will make the children engage in healthy activities like games, socializing, etc., which will affect their grades positively. Additionally, Facebook makes children become technology/computer savvy quickly, and thus, if it is used well, it will be beneficial in the lives of the children (Fenichel 1). Facebook can also be used by Family members to contact each other in cases where its absence could lead to a desperate situation. Take the example of a lost teenager who does not have a way of calling home. All he/she will need to do is to contact his/her family members through Facebook, and the family will be able to trace him/her. Personal opinion It is common knowledge that Facebook is meant to be productive. The fact that a few people are misusing it does not mean that people should stop using it. This, therefore, calls for responsibility on the part of Facebook users. It is wise for Facebook users to avoid adding strangers as friends on Facebook. Users should also ensure that their accounts are satisfactorily secured to avoid unauthorized access to their personal information. This also calls for proper guidance of t