In my earlier post, I took a look at the good news about Parents, Teens and the Internet, now I want to share with you some of the not so good news. I use the term not so good news because the news could be much worse, making it bad news, but things could definitely be better. According to the Pew Internet and American Life Project:

• 32% of online teens have been contacted online by a complete stranger.

• Teens with Social networking profiles are more likely to have been contacted.

• Of teens who have been contacted, 23% say they were made scared or uncomfortable by the stranger contact.

• Girls are more likely to report feeling scared or uncomfortable

• 32% of online teens have experience some form of online harassment, also called cyberbullying:

• Threatening messages
• Private material forwarded without permission
• Someone posting an embarrassing picture of you online
• Spreading a rumor about you online

Just as allowing your child to go to the mall with your friends, your child needs to be perpared. You need to be perpared as a parent to deal with the challenges your child faces online. The Internet, just like the mall, can be a safe place. It can also be very dangerous.

Know the dangers. Face the facts. Prepare your child.

Discover how to protect your child for the dangers that lurk on the Internet in the online parenting seminar: Kids and The Internet: How You Can Keep Your Child Safe We are currently offering open registration for this eye-opening parenting seminar full of practical online safety strategies every family with a computer at home should be practicing.