“It’s 10 p.m. Do you know where your children are?” Remember that phrase from your own childhood? It’s still a valid question, but now, it comes with a twist: “Do you know where your kids are-and who they’re talking to online?”
Social networking sites are the hippest “meet market” around, especially among tweens, teens, and 20-somethings. These sites allow and encourage people to exchange information about themselves in profiles and journals, and use message boards, chat rooms, e-mail and instant messaging to communicate with the world at large. Unfortunately, while social networking sites can increase a person’s circle of friends, they also can increase exposure to people who have less than friendly intentions. The Federal Trade Commission, the nation’s consumer protection agency, offers tips for helping your kids use these sites safely:
• Keep the computer in an open area, like the kitchen or family room, where you can keep an eye on where your kids are going online and what they’re doing.
• Use the Internet with your kids. Be open to learning about the technology so you...