http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7668788/

I was looking at MSNBC today and happened across this GREAT article that I think any parent of a child who uses the internet should read. It's mainly focused on the blog rage, but offers some good advice if you see your kid putting out too much information (like age/where they live) on the internet.

It's a good read!

I just hope that our younger members read it, hopefully it will stop them doing it.

I read that article this morning. I hope our younger members read it as well. Protect yourselves and be aware of what's out there. That 14 year-old you think you're talking to could very well be an adult with less than hornorable intentions.

What a great post. I made my teenager read it this afternoon.

That was an interesting article. Disheartening BUT necessary to share. I was born, and I'm not kidding, when Eisenhower was president. This cyber world was one I avoided for a very long time because it seemed like an episode of "The Jetsons" to me. When I first hooked up to it all I mostly just did personal research and played games here and there. So many of the latter had a 'chat' option. I didn't know what A/S/L even meant for the longest time. When I learned it shocked me. I'm playing "Jeopardy" and someone asks me that? To me it made very little sense. But these young ones have a familiarity with computer stuff that I never did. It's like their entire social life or whatever! And given that, I think, the bulk of them don't know how dangerous it can be. There is a rash these days (at least in the media) of children trusting people who drive up in their cars. That's not really new but it's like they trust just anybody these days because of the safety of distance the computer offers. It doesn't work that way in 'real life'. If I had a youngster in my house I'd watch them like a hawk when online. Not to invade their privacy but to keep them safe. Just my little agreement in this basket.

Well I am always careful when I use the Internet...I reckon the safest website I've been on is here Like Gatsby, I don't see why people insist on wanting to know your a s l . You can never be too careful on the Internet

I have said it before but it won't hurt to repeat it. About ten years ago a man targetted my son who was 15, fortunately my son didin't do as suggested (sneak out of the house when I was in bed) to meet him. It was some years before I was made aware of exactly what went on, and my son going to the police. The man ended up in prison.

I've been planning on starting a blog for a while...except it's to be about astronomy and observing the night sky; definitely nothing about my personal life.! As an internet user I am far more privacy-conscious than my peers, and although my "A/S/L" (ahem) isn't very hidden, I would never dream of giving out my full name, street address, telephone number, etc. to people I don't know personally.

If kids want to learn about the world, there are far better ways to do so than blogs: I think most news-articles and well-written opinionated pieces should suffice. And as far as expressing oneself is concerned, I'm sure there are well-policed sites meant specifically for kids/teens to discuss issues that interest/concern them...and, of course, there's the FunTrivia forums. (Let me take this opportunity to thank the moderating and administrative staff of this site for making this as a safe a place as it is.)

Yeh nice article . I really enjoyed reading it!