Who's talking to your kids online?

To borrow from an old public-service announcement: It's 10 o'clock, do you know where—online—your children are? If the answer is, "Romping around on social-networking sites," it's time for you to take some action.

Millions of minors post all sorts of personal information on social networking sites like MySpace. Sadly, such sites have become virtual playgrounds for adult sexual predators, too, placing a new responsibility of the shoulders of already-overworked parents: safeguarding their kids who go online.

What makes sites like MySpace so risky is that predators can develop long-term relationships with several children simultaneously. "They'll contact the youth repetitively for up to six months," Dr. Sharon Cooper, CEO of Developmental and Forensic Pediatrics in Fort Bragg, N.C., told me. The predators usually present themselves as about 20 years old, an appealing age to younger children, according to Dr. Cooper. They talk to the child so frequently and for such a long period of time that by the time they propose meeting, the children don't see the predator as a stranger. "They see them as people who understand them better than their own parents," she says.

Related reports:

• Social networks: Kids at risk 
• Net threats: Why online is still risky 
• Best online security software 
• Consumer Reports on cyber-security

Unfortunately, many of the targets of such techniques are quite young and impressionable: In our latest Consumer Reports State of the Net survey of households with children online, 13 percent of the children registered at MySpace, the largest networking site, were younger than 14, MySpace's minimum age. MySpace representatives told us that the service is doing its best to restrict access by children that young.

Not enough parents are getting involved in protecting their kids, our survey also found. For example, nearly 20 percent of those with children under 18 online said they had never spoken with them about how to avoid and defend against cyberstalkers and predators. A similar number had never discussed safeguarding personal information or what's appropriate to post online. Most hadn't monitored what their child posted online or tracked their screen names, passwords, or account information. Parents of children 14 and over took fewer precautions than parents of younger children.

Of course, parents can't do it alone; law enforcers are beginning to step up to the job. Besides prosecuting known sex offenders who use such sites in violation of their parole or probation terms, state attorneys general are seeking stronger laws to protect children online. Connecticut, for example, is pushing for a law to require age-verification for users of sites like MySpace, according to Attorney General Richard Blumenthal.

So is North Carolina, where the state senate recently passed a bill requiring age verification and banning registered sex offenders from using social-networking sites. "In North Carolina," Attorney General Roy Cooper told us, "we’re getting tired of waiting."

Other efforts are also under way. Formed in early 2007, the National Association of School Resource Officers promotes Internet safety in schools. Microsoft recently collaborated with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police to develop a global network for tracking incidents of child exploitation. Last year, a group of technology companies that includes Microsoft, AOL, Yahoo, and United Online formed the Center for Child Protection Technologies, an arm of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

For tips on how to keep you and your children safe, see our 19 tips to safer online surfing on ConsumerReports.org. Also check out check out this helpful advice for parents from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

For more about the threats lurking online, read our latest report on Internet security and our latest tests of online security software. (ConsumerReports.org subscribers can also access our latest Ratings for antivirus, antispam, antispyware programs, and security suites--software that offers all three online protection programs in one package.)

--Donna Tapellini

Comments

[Anonymous]

I purchased the software a couple of years ago, and since they have upgraded and told me my software is not longer working and I would have to purchase the new version. In their words, I own the license, but the software needs to be upgraded to work. Upgrade is paid. This information was not given to me at the time of purchase. I was put under the impression I would be able to use the software for as long as I wished, and upgrades would only add extra and new features. I feel cheated.

[IG]

Does anyone have any comments, information, and / or personal experiences with the product "Radar My Mobile Watchdog"? This is supposed to help protect your children from predators who may text them. The program was featured on the Today Show Oct 13, 2008.
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
CR- Are you going to investigate this program as well?
Thank you
I

[Lisa Daniels]

Does anyone have feedback on the parental control software WebWatcher? Once removed or unistalled, do they still have access to your computer?