Kids and the Internet is becoming a more popular choice than kids and baseball. My eight-year-old is already asking for an email address. It frightens me to think that soon they will be vulnerable to online predators.

I am going to do my best to prevent my kids from joining MySpace and other networking websites. But with MySpace jumping from zero to more than 200 million members in just a few years, it will be difficult to prevent them from experimenting with type of communication. After all, a part of growing up is experimenting - but instead of the normal evils such as drugs and alcohol, this new monster is more accesible and easy to hide.

Although MySpace is attaching new regulations on their site in an attempt to protect kids from online predators, the burden remians with the parents to monitor who their child is talking to online. So what are you doing to prevent your kids from online predators? I would love to hear from you.

2 Comments

Shay Smith said:

Great job on the show; this is really helpful information.

February 26, 2008 3:09 PM

Jasmin said:

Educate your kids, not restrict. Eventually they'll find out about it and it's up to you to help them realize that giving out their mailing address for toys or something may not be such a good idea.
My little brother, who is 11, just recently discovered the joys of the internet and when he asked for an email address, I told him what he can and cannot tell people, and why.
He understood, and I'm pretty sure your children will too. If your kid wants to join Myspace, create an account yourself and become one of his friends. You can easily monitor who he is talking to, and if you're concerned with someone he's talking to, keep his password off to the side.
It's up to you parents to help protect us kids. (:

March 7, 2008 11:27 AM

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