Changing my FB group – would this be rude??

[Surianne]

I think it would be pretty mean to start deleting the kids' threads and kicking them out of the group.  They're not doing anything wrong, you just don't like their style of conversation.  Either start a new group for just adults, delete the entire group, or learn to live with some kiddie conversation in between your adult conversation.

I disagree.  IMO, she wouldn't be deleting the kids from the group simply because of how they talk, but because they don't meet the criteria for the group, i.e., they are not adults who graduated from that school.  And they're not on there being nostagic (which kingsrings said is one of the purposes of the group) and to keep up with past classmates; they're on there commenting on current events at the school with current classmates.  Deleting them isn't punitive, but clarifying the purpose of the group.  I'd expect to be deleted if I joined a group that was specifically for 16 year-old boys from Omaha when I'm a 39 year-old woman from New Orleans.

I would agree with you completely if that's what the group said when the kids joined.  For example, if it had said "Class of 1990."  But I think what the OP is talking about is changing the group name and description so that it now excludes the kids.  (I might be wrong in how I'm interpreting the OP--but the group originally said it was for anyone who had gone to the school, which I'd read as including the kids.)

It's really simple to start a new group on Facebook so I think it's worth doing that, rather than deleting the kids who are having fun.  If the OP is worried about continuing as admin of the group she can post a message saying "Hey, if anyone wants to take over as admin let me know by Friday."  Then she can add the other person as admin, delete herself, and never look back--without taking the kids' space away from them.

[kingsrings]

That’s my thought, but I just wondered if it was rude on my part since I never made that clear in the first place when I started the group. I didn’t think I would have to, because I never envisioned kids coming along and thinking it was for them as well.

[Surianne]

That’s my thought, but I just wondered if it was rude on my part since I never made that clear in the first place when I started the group. I didn’t think I would have to, because I never envisioned kids coming along and thinking it was for them as well.

Yes, that's the part that is off to me.  I don't know if it's a politeness/rudeness thing, but it seems kind of mean to kick the kids out suddenly.  I'd just chalk it up to a "whoops" and start a new group.

Another option would be to give a week's notice saying you're closing the group.  "Hey students from School, I'll be changing this group / closing this group on Friday.  If someone wants to volunteer to set up a new group for students, please go ahead!  PM me if you need help."  That way the students can continue it elsewhere themselves if they want to?

[CrayonOutlines]

Ah, see I thought kingsrings started a group for alums of that school.  I didn't realize that the name/description didn't specify that it was for people who are no longer there.

(Using "alumnus" true to its definition of a graduate or former student of a school.)

[squeakers]

I think it would be pretty mean to start deleting the kids' threads and kicking them out of the group.  They're not doing anything wrong, you just don't like their style of conversation.  Either start a new group for just adults, delete the entire group, or learn to live with some kiddie conversation in between your adult conversation.

I disagree.  IMO, she wouldn't be deleting the kids from the group simply because of how they talk, but because they don't meet the criteria for the group, i.e., they are not adults who graduated from that school.  And they're not on there being nostagic (which kingsrings said is one of the purposes of the group) and to keep up with past classmates; they're on there commenting on current events at the school with current classmates.  Deleting them isn't punitive, but clarifying the purpose of the group.  I'd expect to be deleted if I joined a group that was specifically for 16 year-old boys from Omaha when I'm a 39 year-old woman from New Orleans.

It's an elemetary grade school group, though.  So middle school and high school aged kids _are_ alumnus of it. "alumnus FB group for people who attended my elementary school."

Now.. I am unclear as to how many elementary grade school kids have FB. You have to be 13 to have an FB account. So unless this is a grade school that goes up to 6th grade (we had that a few years back).. I can't see how many of the elementary aged kids could be on there.  And once they are out of the school.. then they would be alumnus.

[kingsrings]

Wow – I didn’t know there was an age rule on FB. I’ve known of plenty of under 13 year-old’s on FB. And most of these kids on my group have to be under 13, because most 6th graders are 11 or 12 years old. Hmm…..maybe I could use that as leverage for deleting them – they’re not following FB’s rules?? And I don’t want to be held accountable, being the leader of this group.

[MDefarge]

Wow – I didn’t know there was an age rule on FB. I’ve known of plenty of under 13 year-old’s on FB. And most of these kids on my group have to be under 13, because most 6th graders are 11 or 12 years old. Hmm…..maybe I could use that as leverage for deleting them – they’re not following FB’s rules?? And I don’t want to be held accountable, being the leader of this group.

I don't know that you really need "leverage" per say, I mean its your group & you never intended for them to be in it in the first place, but yes you are supposed to be 13+ to have a FB page.

[Roe]

I don't think it's rude to delete them if you planned on having an adult group.  I'd warn them first, delete them and then be more specific in the description of the group.

[RingTailedLemur]

I think it would be pretty mean to start deleting the kids' threads and kicking them out of the group.  They're not doing anything wrong, you just don't like their style of conversation.  Either start a new group for just adults, delete the entire group, or learn to live with some kiddie conversation in between your adult conversation.

I disagree.  IMO, she wouldn't be deleting the kids from the group simply because of how they talk, but because they don't meet the criteria for the group, i.e., they are not adults who graduated from that school.  And they're not on there being nostagic (which kingsrings said is one of the purposes of the group) and to keep up with past classmates; they're on there commenting on current events at the school with current classmates.  Deleting them isn't punitive, but clarifying the purpose of the group.  I'd expect to be deleted if I joined a group that was specifically for 16 year-old boys from Omaha when I'm a 39 year-old woman from New Orleans.

It's an elemetary grade school group, though.  So middle school and high school aged kids _are_ alumnus of it. "alumnus FB group for people who attended my elementary school."

Now.. I am unclear as to how many elementary grade school kids have FB. You have to be 13 to have an FB account. So unless this is a grade school that goes up to 6th grade (we had that a few years back).. I can't see how many of the elementary aged kids could be on there.  And once they are out of the school.. then they would be alumnus.

They lie about their age to get round it.  It's what my sister does too (she's just turned 12) - I don't approve but I can't do anything about it.

[NOVA Lady]

I am joining this late but I would delete them without worrying about it... FB is for people over the age of 13, not elementary school aged children.

I think they should consider themselves lucky that their profiles are not flagged to be deleted by the administration, which is what I would do. Little kids on FB is a pet peeve of mine.

[kingsrings]

Well, I changed the description of the group to 'adult alumni only, please'. Then I deleted what kids I could find on the members list, some of them you can't really tell if they're kids or not. And I deleted the discussions and wall posts that were kid-started.

Yes, anyone can lie about their age on FB. There's no way they can tell other than asking.