| Instant Messaging Safety Tips |
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| Written by Internet Wise Guy | |
 Internet Messaging, commonly called IM has become a popular communication mechanism for kids and young adult these days, as email overtook the telephone as the tool of choice a generation ago. But IM, and text messaging by phone, carry with them some inherent risks we need to be aware of, both as parents, and as users of these new technologies. Last week, a 15-year-old girl from Florida was found 400 miles from home after she ran away to meet with a sex offender she met online. The girl though she was exchanging messages with a boy much closer to her age, and wanted to go meet him. To the parents' credit, they kept their computer in a common area in their home, not letting their daughter hide in a bedroom, secretly sending messages. And the father said, "I knew the Web sites she was on." But that's not enough. As parents, we need to know with whom exactly they are communicating, and what they're saying. One thing that makes this difficult is the language used in IM. Rather than typing complete sentences, or even words, a new language has developed which is filled with cryptic acronyms. A few to watch for:
Like the Florida girl's father says: "Watch your children, folks, OK?" |
