Parent's Guide for Social Networking Sites   by IndiaParenting

Orkut, Friendster, Hi5, Facebook, and MySpace--do these names sound familiar to you? These are examples of social networking sites. Such sites allow people to make new friends, send messages, share photos, etc. In recent times, these sites have become very popular among teens all over the world.

Can Social Networking Sites be Harmful?

Social networking sites are a great way to catch up with old friends and meet new interesting people. In fact, they also promote literacy skills, knowledge sharing, and social skills. But can they be dangerous?

Here are a few recent cases related to social networking sites (names have been changed to protect people's identity):

* Cases have been reported in the UK and US of 'sexual predators' posing as teenagers and trying to solicit young children and teenagers.

* Janaki was happy that her eleven-year-old daughter was using the computer often. However, she was horrified to see her daughter posting inappropriate photos on her profile on a popular social networking site.

* Fayaz, a teenager, was shocked when the police came to his house one day. An acquaintance from his college had filed a complaint. Apparently, someone had sent obscene messages to his acquaintance using his account and password.

* Anita, the daughter of a school teacher, logged on to a social networking site. What she saw really hurt her. Few of her father's students had created a forum on the site. Some of the posts used obscene language to describe him and his family.

As you can see, social networking sites can be potentially damaging if not properly handled. As a parent, how do you protect your child from untoward incidents?

What Your Child Needs to Know

You may not always be able to prevent your child from using these sites. However, it is necessary to educate him on correct practices to follow while using these sites.