Of course, keeping personal information private is still a stellar habit to get into - especially for teens who often feel they want to share everything with the world.  Spam, identify theft and predatory crimes are a reality, and staying private reduces your chances of becoming a victim.  But even kids that are keeping a private profile are at risk if they engage in discussions about sex.

 

This is good news!  We are beginning to understand even better what puts kids at risk.  It helps us, as parents, have a better conversation with our kids, helps kids better identify potential red flags and helps our Internet community fine-tune it’s educational resources and public service programs about online safety.  

 

It’s not about staying offline.  It’s about being educated and driving, demanding and developing a safe online world community for our kids. It’s all new territory - a new landscape that definitely has some slippery slopes, but offers opportunities not to missed.  That’s why we have to stick together to make it work for kids, our families and our communities. Read the article linked above and get plugged in.