MySpace Unraveled: A Parent’s Guide to Teen Social Networking from the Directors of BlogSafety.com

Chapter 6. A Parents’ Toolkit

AT THE RISK OF seeming overly simplistic, the best way to protect your kids on MySpace or anywhere else is to talk with them—not only about risks, but also about the positive things they do online, what they do and don’t like about social networking, and how you feel about it. Keep in mind they don’t need us (or our credit cards) to use MySpace, but, as is usually the case in teenage lives, they need us as a sounding board.

It’s important that your communication with your child is two-way—listen to them, be supportive, and keep an open mind. Whatever you do, don’t overreact, and try to keep a sense of proportionality. In most cases, the first response to a problem shouldn’t be to punish kids or even ban their use ...