More and more homes and schools are connected by computer to the internet.  Market research and trend analysis company eMarketer estimates that 87% of the teenage population and 43% of children will be online in 2008.

The internet is not governed by any entity. This leaves no limits or checks on the kind of information that is maintained by and accessible to internet users.  Parents should be aware of what’s available on the internet and how to restrict their children’s access to certain material. 

Children and teenagers can get a lot of benefit from being online, but they also can be targets of crime and exploitation in the new environment. A great deal of content exists on the internet that is not appropriate for children. This content can include

• nudity or other sexually explicit material;
• hate group or racist web sites;
• promotional material about tobacco, alcohol, or drugs;
• graphic violence;
• information on satanic or cult groups;
• or even recipes for making bombs or other explosives.

Some of the potential risks of unsupervised online activity include:

• Becoming a target of cyberstalking or harassment that includes repeated and unwanted contact through the internet that is rude or threatening.
• Receiving viruses from other computers that could damage or destroy your hard drive.
• Exposure to sexual predators who use the Internet to try to reach out to children for sexual purposes.

Sexual predators may target children online while maintaining relative anonymity. The nature of online interaction allows deception about the predator's identity, age, and intentions. Millions of children online form a large pool from which predators can select victims. Thus parents and educators need to carefully supervise children's activities while they are on the internet

Most online services and internet providers allow parents to limit their children's access to certain services and features such as adult-oriented "chat rooms" and bulletin boards. Check for these controls when you first subscribe. Here are some helpful hints that also can minimize many potential risks:

• Keep the computer in a central location, such as the kitchen or family room, rather than in a child's bedroom. This way, everyone in the family has access to it.
• Don't use computers and online services as electronic baby-sitters.
• Set and discuss reasonable rules for using the computer.
• Become familiar with the services your child can access and how they work.
• Show interest in how your child is spending time online, and have your child explain what he or she is learning.
• Consider using a pseudonym or not listing your child's name if the service allows it.
• Never give out identifying information or personal information in a public message such as a "chat" or bulletin board, and be sure you're dealing with someone both you and your child know and trust before disclosing identifying information in an E-mail.
• Beware of any offers that involve meeting someone.
• Never respond to messages or bulletin board items that are suggestive, obscene, belligerent, threatening or make you feel uncomfortable. Encourage your child to inform you of any such messages and, if you or your child receive a message that is harassing, of a sexual nature, or threatening, forward a copy to your service provider and ask for their assistance.
• Should you become aware of the transmission, use or viewing of child pornography while online, immediately report this to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children by calling 1-800-843-5678. You also should notify your online service.