Social Networking Sites ...
Keeping Kids Away From Them
The internet can be a media story waiting to happen for many kids and teens.
And parents should take this seriously! Don't think it can't happen to your kid!
Why do kids use one of the most popular social-networking sites MySpace.com and other sites like them?
While MySpace.com and other sites like this allow people to be creative and share information with others, it is a site for adults. However this site is not appropriate for kids and teens.
MySpace.com prohibits anyone under 14 years of age from using their website. Yet, they can’t prevent kids from lying about their age. To address this, they have developed special software to review the profiles of their members, to try and find anyone under age. This is based on information the members post about themselves and does help spot some underage members.
While MySpace.com and other sites are working to keep your children from using their sites, parents have to do work as well. Talk to your kids. Let them know that it is very dangerous to post personal information such as photos, real names, addresses, cell and phone numbers, schools they attend, what is located near your house, descriptions of themselves, etc.
If you want to know if your children have profiles on these sites --- ask them. If you think they are not telling the truth, search these sites using their email address. If you see your child’s profile, read it. If there is any personal information or anything inappropriate contact these sites parental help staff. Your child will think you’re interfering and being too strict, but it’s your job to protect them at all costs.
Ask your child what prompted them to create a profile. What you learn can be a great education into what’s going on with them. Explain to them that when kids lie about their age on these sites that they could be in great danger. Not everyone is who they say they are. Pedophiles pose as younger people and can try to lure them into a meeting.
If your child is posting inappropriate or provocative comments online … it’s your turn to get serious. Sit down and talk immediately. Tell them the stories about older men who lie on the internet to lure young girls and boys into danger. Many kids who got caught up in this aren’t here to tell their stories --- because they’re dead. Some were murdered, some were sexually molested.
The risks our children take are very real!
We don’t recommend that you spy on your kids but we do recommend that you purchase software that records what your kids say and post online. Two programs we know of are spectorsoft.com and software4parents.com . Check your parental controls. Many block access to social networking sites.
Kids know a lot about technology, but you know a lot more about parenting and you must make rules and enforce them. Protect your children!
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