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In the past, it’s been tobacco, alcohol, marijuana. But today’s most popular teen addiction has more users than these three combined, and it is also one of the most dangerous: the Internet. Nearly 71% of teens have online profiles on social networking websites such as MySpace and Xanga, a 10% increase from last year, according to a recent survey funded by Cox Communications, Inc., in partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and TV host John Walsh. Each of these profiles contains some sort of personal information, including photos, videos, personal preferences and contact information. Online profiles are great for keeping track of friends’ birthdays and staying in touch, but parents have become increasingly concerned that the posted information could act as bait for online predators. The survey, which was conducted among 1,070 teens ages 13 to 17 in March, found the following unsettling results: • 19% report to have been harassed or bullied online, with 16- to 17-year-old girls being the most likely victims. • 58% of teens don’t think posting photos or other personal information on social networking sites is unsafe. • 69% regularly receive personal messages online from strangers. • 21% tell a trusted adult when they receive a message from someone they don’t know online. • 31% say they usually chat online with strangers who message them. Despite these bothersome numbers, more parents are talking to their teens about Internet safety than ever before (75%), and as a result, these teens are less likely to post their addresses and other personal information online, where any eyes may see it. Thus, the survey relayed some reassuring results, as well: • 57% of teens say they ignore online messages from strangers (compared to last year’s 47%). • 8% say they have actually met in person with someone they met online, (compared to last year’s 14%) • 16% say they have considered meeting in person with someone they met online (compared to last year’s 30%). Because of parental involvement, teens are becoming more wary of personal safety online. It is essential for parents to regularly discuss Internet safety with their children to ensure their online well-being. For online safety tools and tips, the complete survey results, and links to NCMEC and other resources, visit cox.com/TakeCharge. Maggie Beidelman is an editiorial intern at Churm Media. |
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