Though Facebook bans children under 13, millions of them have profiles on the site by lying about their age.
Now, the company is testing out ways to allow younger kids on its site without needing to lie. It would be under parental supervision, such as by connecting children's accounts to their parents' accounts. That would allow Facebook to comply with federal regulations regarding children under 13 online.
The Wall Street Journal reported on the development in today's editions. It could be a long way off, or never get implemented, as happens with many features that Facebook tests.
In a statement, Facebook says it is in ongoing dialogue with stakeholders, regulators and other policymakers about how best to help parents keep their kids safe online.
Meanwhile, Facebook's stock fell 3% and closed Monday at a new low.
Shares of Facebook Inc. slid 82 cents to close at $26.90, after briefly trading as low as $26.44. The previous low for the closing price was $27.72, on Friday.
Facebook's stock is down 29% from its initial public offering price of $38.
Facebook began trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market on May 18. The day was marred by trading glitches and general investor confusion. The highly anticipated IPO capped the worst week for the U.S. stock market so far this year.
Since the IPO, Facebook's stock has fallen on seven of the 11 trading days. At the same time, many analysts hold upbeat long-term opinions on Facebook.
The company is based in Menlo Park, California. (AP)
