Social Networking Safety

Does your child use a social networking site that you don’t know about? One mother in Columbia, Missouri discovered her daughter was using social networking site MySpace without her knowledge, which included questionable material on the child’s page. Is this something that all parents should be concerned with?

But local authorities say that a little sneaking around can become very dangerous when it involves the Internet. Social networking sites often attract adult predators who share and solicit inappropriate materials and attempt to set up in-person meetings with kids.

"Internet safety is as important in Columbia, Mo., as it is in New York, N.Y.," said James Finch, assistant director of the FBI’s Cyber Division, who spoke about the topic this spring at Lange Middle School. "The FBI is working every day to protect Americans no matter where they live."

It is important to remember to monitor all of your child’s activities when it comes to technology, including what they may be downloading off the internet as well as who they are conversing with on their cell phones. Staying up to date on technology is a great way to ensure that your child is as safe as possible.