Underage Acting As Adult On The Site

As a teenager myself, I honestly couldn't care any more about this. I signed up with an older age because of the fact that I knew that there were age restrictions on here, and I wanted to bypass that. Even then, I never had to give my real age. I don't support actually seperating the ages, because it'll just look like that EP has to go babysit all of the young people, because apparently from going on this kind of website (there are much more worse ones) their minds will be ****ed up. I know what I'm doing on here and I can handle all of this. You shouldn't have to force everyone to do this because you have to act like a, "parent and baby sit" the kids on here. And myself, I've already looked through some of this stuff. And look at me now, posting a response to this story, woooh. There have been intelligent posts on here by kids, and if one of them gets messaged by a "pervert" then it's their fault if they don't just block them. That, and EP should just ban them anyway.

Good ideas FG.

I'm ashamed to say, I don't have a clue how to distinguish between an underage mem or not! HELP!!!

I have read a number of post from under age EP'ers, some have correct age group posted & plenty of imposters. Sadly, the issues that they are posting are things they are afraid to address with their parents, be it their sexual identity, bullies, molestation victims whose parents wont listen to or don't believe there boy friend or older step children would do such a thing, cutters, self harmers, wanting to drop out of school & run away.... And the list goes on. They aren't my children, but I & many more adults here have got thru those issues & have some advice to offer like we would our own children. Unfortunately there are also pedos & if we see an inappropriate post to one of these young people from one of them the pedo should be reported to the Admins ASAP. I've even seen under age put their address on here & that' dangerous. If we don't police ourselves, the governments may

All of your comments are good. We need good people like yourself. But we also need people willing to talk to teenagers about suicide. It is the number two cause of death among teenagers. For too long too many people have stuck their heads in the ground refusing to talk about it. Yes it is a scary subject. No one knows this more than I do. My niece committed suicide at the age of twenty. However, we have had children as young as nine to commit suicide.



The problem is all we can do is flag inappropriate users. I have no way of knowing who is a child molester for I live in a different country. I don't have time to spend as much time on here as I once did. I thank your ideas and your support. And yes sometimes we have to protect youth, and children from themselves. Some just do not understand how dangerous this place can be.

Limiting "adult" topics to adults is a problem all over the Internet. Some sites require a credit card to register, but this would discourage many legitimate EP participants. Other sites examine the content of every post and ban posters whose style or content suggest immaturity, but the sheer volume at EP rules that out. It's obvious to me that there are many underage members here who post in adult topics. (Some of their posts are laughable!)



Although EP may not be the best place to find appropriate advice on serious subjects, for some kids it's the only place they know. While some responses could come from pedophiles, I've read many sincere, mature messages that offer sound guidance. We mustn't throw out the baby with the bathwater.



Of course parents should know what their kids are accessing on the Internet, but most of them don't.

Well let's hope these changes are made.

I myself a teen and I think this is fabulous idea. I made sure I didn't lie about my age but I've read a lot of stories where they say they're 14 but then they're profile says they're in their 30s.



I appreciate the concern for the teens as many adults say we should be more careful but do nothing to make sure we have the tools and skills to actually BE careful.

Thanks

Hey...that's a really good idea...I have noticed the same thing...and also have had the same concerns.

Thank you for your comments dg

Brilliant!! Those things mentioned in this story will definitely improve EP.

I am a pastor and do a lot of pastoral counseling. I have a degree in youth ministry/theology/ a masters in in theology, with a minor in counseling. Here is what many of those who have come to me have said.



I change my age because I get targeted because I am a teenager. Now that I have become a EP Volunteer I am concerned about our children here. They are vulnerable. When a group is called I want to do a fourteen year old or a teenager. I do not know if this is fantasy or if is a group out to target these children.



Yes I am concerned about self harm because of a niece and a friend that committed suicide. The other concern, someone may think they are talking to an adult when in fact they are talking to a teenager and it can be mature topics .



As a EP Volunteer I will be flagging anything that I would determine to be a threat to our teenagers, while allowing the freedom of expression. I also agree in allowing teenagers in any group that would tend to be a help to them.



There are many people here that are interested in protecting our children. You never want to have to face a family where their young daughter has been hurt or killed by a predator. I have been in that position as a pastor. I am all the times warning our kids here in the Philippines to be careful.



I love you all very much. God bless

Smart Comment/Feedback and proposal.

:-)

Thanks for sharing this post and bringing up your concerns. Protecting minors on EP is important to us and we are regularly evolving our adult filters to do a better job.



No system is perfect. If you notice an account where a member has confessed to lying about their age, we ask that you please flag and report the account.



We are also working to improve the way we classify groups as adult and non-adult. You mentioned that some members may be lying about their age to gain access to mature groups around suicide and crossdressing. Though this maybe a factor and it's certainly something we'll be discussing with our developers there's no such thing as a perfect automated systems. Flagging from community members will help us keep this a safe and positive space.

I don't think teens should be here to begin with. There is too great a chance they can be targeted by the wrong kind of adult.

There are some teens here yes i talk with 2 that i know of every night we talk about school and parents but more then any thing elses we talk about a very rare medical condition.



and they do get mad at adults for asking them sexuial questions and coming on to them even with there age listed of 18



we need to figure uot a better way to flag people and to deal with the perversation that really seems to be taking over EP look at people that write the same thing under different names



we need to dealwuth people that makes comments about god and killing others over god but block aothers from the other side

Hmmmm this is new, but I wonder why none of the teenagers wrote a story about it

If you can't change your age you can send a message to the admins and they can fix it for you.

I'm 18....but i still can't distinct myself between 17 and 18........have I matured?

I have encountered a few teens who told me the same thing, they could not access groups that they related to. One female indicated the youth were rude. obnoxious and way to sexual for her taste. She found the adult groups more to her liking!

explain that one?

I agree with you all, this should be done. :)

Good work my friend ! (((HUGS)))

That is a great idea. If not, could you maybe create a page, linked to this one for teens only, where adults can't enter. There would need to be moderators as well though, and of course they do need to be adult. But it is clear this is a major problem and we need to find a solution.......

yes its confusing enough being a teen without all the extra garbage going on atm.



I think the idea of designated teenage groups is a good idea and if someone swears in them just have the swear asterixed out automatically by a chat filter rather than locking the story up into "adults only" Would be most helpful to them. Would seem silly for them being punished for someone else using coarse language in their own area =D



Furthermore I would propose that stories written by the 13-17 yr olds automatically have this feature added by EP when they post their story. Imagine how frustrating it must be to be locked out of your own story because what some other fool adult or child has said.

Or to have to lie about your age. It is too risky that the adult they may encounter may be out to hurt them for them to release the filters altogether but there needs to be a place for these kids. My heart aches for them.

Fantastic Idea. Teens do need a lot of advice and education and it must be frustrating to be kept out of helpful advice because someone has used coarse language or the like.