Never Too Safe Online Options

[Im So Vain]

In my recent issue of Teen Vogue there was an article about how, more teens are looking for love online. On sites like match.com, friendster, craigslist. makeoutclub, myspace, etc.

According to a September 2004 Dateline NBC report, one in five teens who chat or date online will be contacted by an online predator. As part of the show's investigation, a reporter and a team of volunteers created a fictional 14 year old Brooklyn girl who e-mailed with men in cyberspace. "She" eventually made plans to meet them for sex, In the course of a single afternoon more than eighteen men showed up at a house where they thought the young girl would be waiting alone for them. (Instead, they were greeted by Dateline reporters.)

QUESTIONS TO GET STARTED:
1.)Should the minimum age to have an online personal be raised?

2.)Should parents have more control over their childs internet access?

*Fell free to add anymore thoughts you have, beyond the two questions.

[CrimsonSkyGraphi...]

Hmn. Well, I've been online since I was like 11. Granted, the first..two years I spent at sites like Barbie.com. >_> (Dont make fun of me. It was all new to me, and I'm a child at heart. XD)

By the time I was near 13 though, I'd found my way into chat rooms. My mom new, but she also trusted me and left me to do my thing. <.< Now, I'm not going to claim to have been a good little girl all these years. Gawd knows I haven't. But I was never 'stupid', either. I've gotten myself into a few messes with online bfs (including the one I have now, who my mom has banned me from talking to after 3 years of doign so..-_-..Yay @ being almost 18) . But, I've also been homeschooled..so I didnt have the chance to get into the relationship messes 'offline'. o_O Personally..As long as your kids are schooled to 'not' meet the person without parental permission and what not, I dont think it's a problem. <.<; Oh. And yeah..maybe worry about allowing the kid to have a webcam. I mean..If the kid wants to check out some porn sites underage..Firstly, if they're searching on 'purpose'..They're curious, and in my opinion..It's damn safer to be checking out porn than to be going ot experiment with a guy in real life, no? No disease. No Pregnancy.

Yes, the internet has its major issues..and 'can' be a bad situation..But, if your kid 'is' mature enough, I'd suggest you dont watch their every move. They 'will' end up with the lack of trust and rebellion issues, as said before.

When I have kids, I'm planning on letting them on the net..Under controlled circumstances untill I think they're mature enough. Then they can do as t hey wish. As long as they dont break the law, or try to meet someoen without me knowing. o.o; I'll be totally supportive if they have an online bf/gf, too. Since I've been through it..it seems wrong for me to be against it. I'd just be happy they told me about it.

**Edit**
Almost forgot I wanted to point out something else. Sometimes a lesson takes someone 'doing' the mistake to learn from it. >_> This is why when a parent says something like "no, you cant do that because it'll be bad"..a lot of kids rebel. o_O How can a parent know better than me, right? <_< Lmao. Psh. Even though i understand why they know better, there's still some things I need to experience for myself. Incase you're wondering, I'm ranting a bit about the bf I've been banned to talk to (And still do, btw..just..not on the phone like she used to allow..-.-). To me..trying to control who your kid 'dates'..Is just that. 'Control'. Unless you have proof this guy is going to like murder your kid, I dont think you should try to stop them..just try to get involved so you'll be 'told' the details.

Okay. End rant now. >_>