Social networking

How can I make it safer?

Review the "Terms of use" for the social networking site your child is interested in joining to ensure that your child meets the age requirements to use the service.
Assist with the creation of online profiles when your child joins a social networking or gaming sites. Only fill in what is necessary, leaving out identifying or revealing information. Make sure you know your child's login information and email addresses. What username or character names has your child given her/himself? Does it provide identifying characteristics about her/him or her/his hobbies (e.g. shygirl, bookworm, etc.)?
Monitor webcam use and any posting or exchanging of pictures online.
Check your child's files in "My Pictures" to see what images are being sent, received, and saved by your child.

Set the expectation that you will monitor your child's online activities, as the Internet is a public place.
Explain to your child that pictures should not be sent or posted online without parental permission — once sent, control over what happens to the picture is lost.
Reinforce the idea with your child that not everyone is who they say they are online. People can pretend to be older or younger than they actually are.
Explain to your child that s/he should trust her/his instincts and block or ignore someone if they ask questions online that seem "weird" (i.e. questions about puberty, sex, etc.).
Talk about friendship: what it is and isn't.
Explain to your child that online chatting needs to be adult-supervised.
Explain to your child that it's illegal to threaten someone, and that s/he should tell a safe adult if threatened online.