If you are the parent of a teenager, most likely he or she is part of the social networks MySpace and Facebook. If you are the parent of a teenager, most likely you should be part of the social networks MySpace and Facebook. A new study, reported by CNN.com, finds that 54 percent of teens on these social networks talk about sex, violence, and alcohol and drug use.
Most likely, many teens who write about such risky behavior don’t actually act on it in real life. Teens may engage in this “chit-chat” because they are either thinking about doing such things, or are just trying to fit in or “be cool.”
Even if kids are only talking and not participating in these types of behaviors, it can still hurt them in the future. That’s why it might not be a bad idea for parents to have their own profiles on these networks. Create a profile not to “spy” on your child, but to learn more about him or her. It could be a bonding topic between the two of you, and can open windows to learn more about your teenager's interests, hobbies, and friends.
Do you have teen with a MySpace or a Facebook profile? Do you have an account, or do you look to see what your teenagers’s activity is on these social sites? Let us know how you feel about networking sites like these and your teenager’s use of them.