Obstacles, Statistics, Habits and Boundaries

Obstacles facing parents

Perhaps the biggest obstacle facing parents is their own lack of experience with social networking sites. These sites did not exist when they were teenagers, and in most cases, neither did the Internet. Many parents also have a technological disadvantage that their children don’t.

When parents don’t know how social networking sites work and are unfamiliar with the methods currently available to keep closer control over their children’s use of the internet and their computer, parents have a definite disadvantage.

But even those parents who do set limits on and have developed rules for proper usage of social networking sites face a major obstacle: A lack of control over the teen’s access to other internet-enabled computers.

If a teenager wants to badly enough, he or she will find a way to access these social networking sites, regardless of what their parents say.

The Stats

A recent article posted at Sexlaws.org outlines results from a survey conducted by Cox Communications Inc and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children which aired on hit TV show America’s Most wanted in Fall of 2007.

Results of the survey would indicate that more communication is taking place between parents and teens about safe internet practices; however, there is still much room for improvement.

Some of the numbers may shock you but most are fairly predictable and ring true through demonstrated behaviors of their own teens. (Read article)

Teen Internet Habits at Home

Teens benefit from the internet in so many ways. Their biggest benefit is quick and easy access to information on practically any topic. Now when a teen has to write a report or needs directions for building a replica of the Hubble Spaceship, a simple search and a few mouse clicks are all it takes to get started.

Being able to access information on practically any topic does have a downside though. Taking the same few steps, teens can reach websites that provide instructions for making bombs and making babies, including detailed images.

With more and more teens going online, and staying online in some cases for hours on end, what’s a parent to do?