Teen Internet Safety
From LoveToKnow Safety
While going online can be educational and enjoyable, teen Internet safety is always a concern. Young people going online need to keep the possible perils in mind while using this medium.
Teen Internet Safety and Social Networking Sites
Social networking sites, such as MySpace and Facebook, are very popular with teens. The results of a study conducted by Cox Communications and NCMEC2revealed some interesting results, including:
- Over 61 percent of teens have a profile posted on social networking web sites like Friendster, MySpace or Xanga
- Half of these social networking site users have added a photo to their profile page
- As teens get older, they are more likely to turn to these websites for networking purposes or to make new friends.
Exposure to Potential Risks by the Numbers
Teen Internet users are not immune to the potential safety risks presented by going online.
- More than 70 percent of young people reported that they have received messages from someone they didn’t know.
- Forty-five percent of teens have been asked to provide personal information online by someone they didn’t know
- Approximately one-third of teen Internet users have considered meeting someone in person they have been communicating with online. Fourteen percent of them have actually met someone they know from going online.
When teens are approached online by someone they don’t know, four out of ten responded that they would probably chat with that person anyway. Less than 20 percent would tell an adult about the experience.
Teens Think They Are Safe Online
When teen survey participants were asked about their perceptions of how safe going online is, the results were disturbing. A full 20 percent stated that they felt they were ““somewhat” or “very safe” if they chose to share personal information on a social networking site or a blog that is available to the public. When respondents were asked whether they were concerned about the way the information they are posting online is used, a third of teens between 13-17 reported that they were ““not very concerned” or “not at all concerned” about this issue.
How Parents Can Help Teens Stay Safe Online
Parents can do their part for teen Internet safety by talking to their kids about safety issues and keeping track of where their kids are going online. Many teens don’t think their parents know much about the Internet, and there are some things that parents can do to remedy this situation.
Talking to teens about safety issues helps teens change their online behavior. When parents take the time to discuss Internet security with them, they are more likely to be able to recognize potential threats and tell their parents about them. Teens who are better educated about Internet safety are less likely to post photographs of themselves online or to share personal information. They know not to respond to requests to communicate from people they don’t know. These teens are also more likely to block communication from unknown sources and to tell their parents when these events occur. Parents who want to learn more about the Internet and how it works can visit their local public library to find some books about the Internet and Internet safety issues. They can ask someone they know who has more experience navigating the Web for some information as well. These LTK articles provide good information about Internet safety topics:
When young people are aware of teen Internet safety issues and know how to avoid online perils appropriately, they are less likely to be bullied or harassed while online. Parents can help them understand that they need to be on their guard when using the Internet.
Learn More
This page has been accessed 244 times. This page was last modified 20:30, 31 July 2009.
© 2006-2009 LoveToKnow Corp.
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