Problems facing today's parents

The Internet can open a world of possibilities for children, allowing them to explore new cultures and share ideas like never before.  But with these benefits come serious dangers, including Sexual Predators, Pornography, Online Bullying and more.

1. Privacy. The way you define privacy will differ from your child’s definition Can you remember the last time you disclosed personal information, pictures, videos, or related information? Your child uses instant messaging, text messaging, and social networking sites to post any and all information about themselves to the public eye.

2. The internet is a revolving door. Keeping the pace is hard to do. The door is constantly changing speeds, directions, and people. This philosophy holds true with the internet. You finally feel like you have a grip on what your child is doing on the internet…and then it CHANGES! New popular sites, new friends, new games and new devices with internet access (instant messaging via mobile phone) can change in a matter of seconds.  

3. Constant Internet Access. You can not be with your child all the time. This makes it almost impossible to monitor the amount of time your child spends on the internet. Now computer/mobile phone use is just as common DURING school as it is AFTER school. Your child uses the computer at school for certain classes or work and then comes homework assignments that now require computer use. While finishing their school work, they are playing their favorite game, watching videos, downloading music, chatting to friends, and checking their social networking pages all at the same time.

4. Knowledge barrier.  Kids these days have grown up online. Using computers, navigating sites, and their unique way of communicating is their second nature. At times you might wonder if they are speaking a foreign language. (NP, LOL, TTYL, LMK) Or even words such a navigating, posting, and messaging causes confusion.

5. Content Creators.  What does this even mean? Would you even know where to begin doing this? Kids are creating the content by posting pictures, messages, songs, and videos for all to see. They have the ability to search friends’ messages, friends of friends, x-rated videos, etc. A big danger is that unfiltered and unedited information can be viewed.

6. Don’t want to be a drag? Kids and especially teenagers want their privacy. It can be annoying when you have a constant line of questioning: what are you doing? Who are talking to? What site is that? How do you do that? Putting limits on what your child does online: for example: strict controls, can lead to your child doing it behind your back and becoming clever with it. Your child can discover ways to get around the controls. This can lead them to being secretive about what they do discover online and keeping it to themselves in fear of getting in trouble.