How Do You Spot Social Network Abuse?
Social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace can be great for making friends, but they also pose a hazard. People lie about who and what they are and then purposely harm other people. This can take the form of sexual predators trying to entice young people into sexual encounters or cyberbullies, who delight in harassing others. People can also distort personal facts to appear more appealing and accomplished. Keep track of how much time your child spends online. Worry if your child is suddenly spending a lot more time online, particularly if she has stopped doing other things such as watching favorite TV shows or hanging out with friends. Question your child if you find pornography on your family’s computer or on CD-ROMs or flash drives. Sexual predators often send pornographic files to their victims. Also insist on knowing what’s inside any letters or packages your child gets from people you don’t know. Ask about phone calls your child is making to numbers you aren’t familiar w
