Is the idea of a virtual hangout for college students slowly being taken over by parental control?
Facebook's largest age group is now ages 35 to 54, accounting for 28.2 percent of all U.S. users as of July, according to iStrategyLabs, an online marketing firm.
The increase is a 276 percent jump from a year ago.
With the incline in the older age group, there has also been a decline in the younger age groups.
Following behind the 35 to 54-year-olds are those ages 18 to 24, who account for 25.1 percent of Facebook users.
Fifty-five-year-olds make up 12 percent of users.
The social network started in 2004 by Mark Zuckerberg was originally limited to college students.
Since becoming open to both college and non-college Internet users, Facebook has been on a steady incline toward reflecting the entire population of Internet users.
Peter Corbett, Chief Executive of iStrategyLabs, said he attributes the influx of older people to job networking during the descending economy.
"I mainly got in it to keep up with family and see the pictures my children put on their walls," said Carol Carson Gaither, an Auburn alumna.
Gaither teaches a class to eighth-graders about the dangers of putting pictures and information on a Facebook page that members do not want everyone to see.
She also teaches a session for parents on how students can stay safe on Facebook and MySpace.
"I guess I created a wall so I could understand what it is all about and pass on the info to parents and students," Gaither said.
Many parents enjoy being able to keep in touch with their children through the use of social networking sites, and not all children are against it.
Adam Leger, a junior in landscape horticulture, said he thinks there are some advantages to having his dad as a friend on Facebook.
"You can share photos and show them things that you're doing," he said. "They can also see my friends that they haven't met yet."
Leger said the disadvantages of having Mom and Dad as friends are they can get on edge about things people tag you in or discuss on your wall.
However, Facebook does offer privacy settings, so users can decide what features friends can and cannot see.
Some students are not as open-minded as others about having their parents on Facebook.
"My mom can see all the dumb things I've done," said Jeremiah McCrory, a senior in building science. "Not that I'm ashamed, it's just that there are some things she doesn't need to know."
With the rise of an older demographic, the possibility of Facebook losing its younger crowd could become a reality.
"I don't want to be friends with my mom or anyone else's mom," said Blair Stansell, a recent Auburn nutrition graduate. "There should be a separate Web site just for middle-aged people. I don't think anyone who has graduated from college should keep Facebook. That's why I chose to delete my account."
In a world where privacy is becoming harder and harder to obtain, Facebook is one of the last safe havens for students.
With the influx of parents, students might just have to find another cyber hangout that can remain parent-free.
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