A year or so ago, I stumbled upon a series of PBS (Public Broadcasting Network) videos online that revealed how many kids are creating for themselves a totally different social identity online.
Via the Internet they are able to escape their own seemingly (to them) boring lives and become someone they are not, but maybe they think that they want to be.
Whether it be a character on Second Life, creating an actual sex website that they get paid for, or they become known for their personality and charm that they may not show to those in real life.
It is truly shocking what kids are able to do online that they might not ever do in real life.
The stories played out on these videos were stories of real kids who had gotten caught up in the web of the Internet and become someone else.
In most cases, their parents were not aware of this at all, and in some cases the consequences once they were discovered were quite harsh.
Some of the things that kids can get involved with online are harmless, however do you know what "image' your child is creating for him or herself online.
If you haven't taken into account what they are doing online and if you've never checked it out for yourself I'd urge you to start.
While some kids merely use their online world as a place to be someone they aren't in real life, others use it to boost their popularity offline.
Taking semi-nude or nude pictures of themselves and displaying them online or sharing information about what they participate in, the possibilities are much scarier than you might guess.
As a former youth minister who has had much experience with teens I urge you to get involved.
Don't be afraid to ask your kids questions about their online activity.
Always have access to their computer even if they have personal laptop or desktop PC.
Always know their logins and passwords and be aware of where they "hang out" online.
Don't let technology scare you or get the best of you even if you aren't tech savvy.
If kids can do it so can you so don't let that stop you from protecting your kid.
Whatever you do start today being proactive about the image your kid is creating for him or herself online.