" Approximately 1 in 7 youth online (10- 17 years-old) received a sexual solicitation or approach over the internet " Online Victimization of Youth: Five Years Later from the Crimes Against Children Research Center

The following links and websites are here to help parents, kids, educators, and others keep our children safe when dealing with internet safety

This is a website where parents, teens, educators, and experts discuss and learn about safe blogging and social networking. You might call this social networking about the social networks!

The NetSmartz Workshop is an interactive, educational safety resource to teach kids and teens how to stay safer on the Internet. NetSmartz combines the newest technologies available and the most current information to create high-impact educational activities that are well received by even the most tech-savvy kids. Parents, guardians, educators, and law enforcement also have access to resources for learning and teaching about the dangers children may face online. NetSmartz was created by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) and Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA).

The Congressionally mandated CyberTipline is a reporting mechanism for cases of child sexual exploitation including child pornography, online enticement of children for sex acts, molestation of children outside the family, sex tourism of children, child victims of prostitution, and unsolicited obscene material sent to a child. Reports may be made 24-hours per day, 7 days per week online at www.cybertipline.com or by calling 1-800-843-5678.

A listing of several online security tips including social networking safety

Software4Parents.com software secretly records all Internet and blocks adult content, since 1999. Our Spy Software can Secretly Record MySpace, E-mail, Chat, IM, Blogs...Even Passwords.

If you're like most of us, parenting in the age of the Internet has you facing a new set of challenges. Blue Coat is committed to helping you and all communities through this 'First Generation of Internet Parenting'. K9 Web Protection is our free Internet filtering and control solution for the home. K9 puts YOU in control of the Internet so you can protect your kids.
WiredSafety, Is A 501(c)(3) Program and the largest online safety, education and help group in the world. We are a cyber-neighborhood watch and operate worldwide in cyberspace through our more than 9,000 volunteers worldwide. (WiredSafety is run entirely by volunteers.)

A place for teens and parents to learn how to use the Internet safely. No preaching, just good advice.

Book: MySpace Unraveled: What It Is and How to Use It Safely by Larry Magid and Anne Collier. Book Description
Do you know what your children are up to on MySpace? MySpace Unraveled: What it is and how to use it safely discusses the booming MySpace social-networking phenomenon and shows you exactly what you need know about MySpace and how to create a safe online experience for your kids. Written by Larry Magid and Anne Collier of Family Tech Talk, this short and extremely useful guide discusses what children are doing on social-networking Web sites and why they have become so popular. While other books on this subject discuss how to use social networking sites, this is the first guide to address the topics important to parents.

A summary of helpful hints page for parents on dealing with internet safety at home

Important ideas:

• Empower parents to monitor their children- engaged and alert parents are critical to keeping kids safe
• Strangers on the internet are no different from strangers in person and the same rules apply (Stranger Danger)
• Have open dialogue with kids about their internet activity- ask questions!
• Ask if they have Myspace or other personal website page and have them show it to you and provide you with their password (you are the parent!)
• Teach offline and online rules for computer use- set boundaries and post them by the computer and enforce them !
• Put computer in a common place in the house for easy monitoring
• Use the tools available to help you monitor your child's internet usage
• Monitor and report inappropriate behaviors to internet providers, myspace representatives, and/or law enforcement officers
• Tell kids why to be careful and how to do so
• Get information about all forms of technology- i.m.'s, e-mail, text message, etc.
• Just because parents don't understand technology does not mean they should ignore it