My kids and family have connected four generations across the country on Facebook. When we got my brother-in-law, age 70, from the upper peninsula of Michigan on board, we knew we had arrived.

It’s also the place we all learn of the official relationship beginning and endings for all the nieces and nephews. My sister-in-law messaged me to say that she noticed my daughter was in a relationship.

While my family has successfully connected on FB, this is not the place for teens or tweens to show their independence. If your kids want to get on Facebook, you need to supervise everything about it. Everything. Facebook can be a landmine of trouble for young adults. Here’s a guide for parents. And another from FB. If you don’t know how to restrict usage, get a geek to help you, and I’m not kidding.

My youngest is 20 and never got on Facebook because so many kids posted really awful things. Here’s a guide to Facebook etiquette. And remember, your kids can connect on their phones too. Supervise usage of all Internet for your kids.

Pam Parker is an award-winning writer and editor for Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa.