Who Are Your Kids Online With, Really?

We all want to give our kids the benefit of the doubt. We've imparted good values, set boundaries, and done our best to raise them. However, sometimes they might choose friends that we wouldn't approve of, friends that cause trouble either in school, at home, or with other kids. Worse yet, they might influence your child to lean in that direction as well. So you set boundaries and tell your son or daughter that you don`t want them to socialize with that person. You can`t watch over them while they are in school, so you sure do hope that they obey your words which are in their best interest.

Now we know that technology has made some things better for us, but it`s made some things worse too. It has made it easier for kids to stay in touch with anyone they want, even those kids you would rather they stay away from. They can text, email, or instant message anyone while you are just a few feet away, completely unaware. In that regard, technology can undermine your requests for your child to avoid socializing with the not so wholesome kid or group of kids.

You have a right to know what is going on in your kid`s life. The risks of not knowing are just too high. They probably aren't going to tell you everything, but there could be things you need to be aware of to keep them on the right track.

Not to be an alarmist, but there some realities to be dealt with. Kids seem to spend more time online more than ever before. Facebook and YouTube present possibilities for rumors to get out of control wreaking havoc in a kid`s life. Some chat rooms and bulletin boards have a reputation for exploiting kids. Bottom line statistics are:

86% of children chat online without their parents' knowledge.

64% of teens do things they don't want their parents to know about.

50% of teens communicate online with someone they have never met.

30% of teenage girls are sexually solicited inside a chat room.

58% of parents monitor what their child does in online chat rooms.

Guess what? Technology is on our side as well. There is software designed to record emails, reveal websites visited, and provide you with screen shots of their online activity. This might seem invasive, but if you have a hunch that your child is hanging out with a bad crowd behind your back, taking a passive approach can yield some unfortunate consequences. This software that I`m talking about runs undetected and can email you the results to another computer or the one you use while you`re at work. You can at least have the peace of mind that you know what you need to know.

This type of online reporting software is useful for younger teenagers as well because it will protect them from online predators. What if your child unknowingly has a conversation with an online predator and got convinced to meet face to face? It`s a nightmare you don`t want to consider. There have been news stories about this very scenario, where kids have gone missing and police find the chat on the computer. But monitoring programs would send you an email of the whole chat immediately after it happens. You avoid the worst and simply block that site forever.

The monitoring programs I am referring to are very user friendly and are compatible with just about all internet service providers, even AOL. In the end, you get to know for sure about what is going on in your child`s life even if they don`t want to tell you. It`s our job and commitment to keep them safe, loved, and protected from harmful situations that just don`t need to happen. In the bio box there`s a link that explains the specifics about how this type of technology can keep you in the know.

Louise Green is a freelance writer and researcher. One visit to her site http://www.direct-supplies.com/spyguylikes/acespy/ and every parent of a teenager will find information that can
guarantee online safety.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Louise_Green http://EzineArticles.com/?Who-Are-Your-Kids-Online-With,-Really?&id=1097606

Related News:

Kidsnet Internet Parental Controls Offered as a Free Version
BluePrint Data today announced that it has released a FREE full version of its Kidsnet Internet Parental Control software. In 2003 Kidsnet Internet Parental Controls was chosen by Ziff Davis Publishing(c) as one of the top three Parental Control products and in 2005 Consumer Reports(c) rated Kidsnet as excellent (the highest possible rating) in protection, ease of use and flexibility.
PRWEB

Dangers of the social networking sites - MySpace and Facebook
The popularity of the Social Networking has taken its toll on the the kids online safety. Fortunately, there is something you can do about it ...more

AT&T Gives Parents Control Over Kids' Phones
A few weeks after the AT&T wireless limits service was introduced, the Houston Chronicle asked a group of teens for their opinion of the parental control ...more
The Heartland Institute, IL

Facebook - Parental Control Needed?
Last week, an incident in which middle school (6th to 8th grade) kids created Facebook groups to attack and defame their teachers, happened in one of the ...more
Cnet Asia, CA

Related Articles:

How To Monitor Your Kid Computer Activities Without Buying Parental Monitoring Software
Here are a few tips on how to see some of the basic feature of the parental monitoring software such as the Internet Browsing History without buying any monitoring software. The Internet Browsers actually store all the browsing activities; you just need to know where to look for it

Internet Security: Why It’s Important
In today’s world, the internet is one of the most popular tools that you can use to buy goods and services. It is considered as one of the most useful tools that people make use of.

Norton Internet Security: The Trusted Name in Internet Security Software
Are you looking for the perfect internet security software for your computer? Are you looking for the internet security software with all the things you need to secure your computer from hackers, viruses, and other malicious programs circulating the internet today?

Why Parents Need Keylogger Software
The emergence of the internet, and associated technologies like email and instant messaging, present problems for today's parents that were unimaginable just twenty years ago.

5 Signs Your Kid Might Be At Risk with Online Sex Predators
Online chat room is the number one medium where online sex offenders spend large amounts of time online. Pornographic pictures are commonly used by the sexual predators to lure and seduce kids into a sexual discussion. It is a common 'next step' for sexual predators to send photographs and gifts to their potential preys.

Software For Your Kids
Computers are all the rage today for people of all ages including children. There are many different types of software that you can choose from when it comes to picking something for your children to enjoy on the computer.

Children & Internet Safety
More people are surfing the Web than ever before...and many parents have growing concerns over their children's safety. Find out the latest statistics on Internet safety and advice for parents.

Not Sure How To Safeguard Your Children? Keep Reading!
It is natural for parents to worry about their children throughout the day when they are out of sight at school or away from home. The one place they should never worry for their child is when they are home. Unfortunately, parents do worry when they leave their children alone in front of the television. There are many shows these days containing violence, sexual content, and adult language that are easily accessible to anyone with a remote control.

Trend Micro Enterprises: Pc-cillin Internet Security Software to Protect Yourself from Malicious Sof
Because of the advancement in communications technology, the internet became the most popular tool for businesses. More and more people are taking advantage of the power of internet. Some use the internet to sell things, while others use it to buy things. The internet is also one of the best ways to communicate with your loved ones.

Reviews for Internet Security Software: Know All About the Different Internet Security Software Avai
It is a fact that more and more people are using the internet to purchase the items they need in their everyday lives. Some people even shop for their groceries online to save travel time. There are also people who prefer paying their utility bills over the internet.

Parental Controls: Offered From DirecTV
If you are a young parent, single parent, or part of a household where two parents have full time jobs, than you probably have worries about your children being subjected to gratuitous sex and or violence on television at your home. It is a growing concern of many parents who can not always be around their children when they watch television

What To Look For In Parental Controls & Internet Monitoring Software
The parental control software is not only great for notifying you immediately of any pornographic activity on your home computer, but you can also get detailed reports of how much time is spent online by anyone in your household and the exact characters that have been typed in.

10 New Features In Microsoft Windows Vista
The curiosity levels and buzz regarding Windows Vista is probably greater than the news that spread when man landed on the moon. Extensively discusses and analyzed Microsoft’s Windows Vista is scheduled for an end 2006 release with the corporate version coming first.

25 Ways to Keep Your Kids Safe Online, In School and in Your Neighborhood
The National Center for Missing and Exploited children put together this child safety list. It contains very valuable information on what to do to keep our kids safe, worth sharing with everyone.