It seems obvious, but we have a real issue with keeping children safe on the internet.  This is much more real than you might think, since most kids are far more tech savvy than their parents, and can find very creative ways to get what they are looking for.  The Polly Klaas Foundation released results of a survey this week that highlights some surprising trends among our young people and their internet use.  For instance, teens are likely to make contact with someone they have never met before through instant messaging.  This means that we as parents don’t know them either, which is troublesome, especially since age deception is common and frequently practiced on the internet.

Thanks to the Polly Klaas Foundation for sharing this with parents.  It is hard to understand where to start with internet use and kids, but these statistics at least provide a picture of where trouble begins.  The results indicate that two in five kids have posted information about themselves on the internet so others can contact them.  So, we know that we need to stress privacy to our children early on, and help them understand the risks of sharing data in a public forum.  The Foundation plans to release a parent’s guide to internet safety early next year, so watch for it, and stay tuned to your children’s online activities.