Kids and Social Media -- Protection Must Trump Privacy

When my article on kids and social media first appeared (www.stylemg.com/Style/September-2011/Social-Media-Mayhem), I'm sure more than a few readers (maybe even good friends of mine) rolled their eyes in doubt.
But the more I learn about Internet usage patterns in kids and teens, and the inherent dangers lurking within the anonymous confines of laptops and smart phones, the more I wish parents would pay attention to these types of warnings and not just roll their eyes in dismissal.
When I initially interviewed Jeff Rinek, I was starstruck. Notorious for life, he was the FBI agent who ultimately got a full confession out of the "Yosemite Killer" Cary Stayner. For those unaware, it was an eerie, haunting case that transfixed viewers and readers in early 1999.
Once comfortable with Mr. Rinek's creds, I became once again entranced when he started sharing stories of the FBI underground. You know, those demonic situations that occur in your community but you never hear about them -- because they never make it to the media. It's those "almost happened" or the "we caught him before he" stories that truly left me wide awake at night for weeks.
There is no denying the majority of recent close calls in crimes against children are a direct result of social media portals, as Rinek calls them, into an adolescent's life. It's nothing less than shocking how much your child is at risk once they become wired, even if you are a "friend" of theirs on Facebook.
As adults, we are constantly made aware of new ways the Internet and social media have infiltrated our lives by tracking our purchases or suggesting our friends for us.
As parents, we need to help our kids learn to be hyper vigilant. We should parent our children on the Internet as we would in real life. Hands on and with purpose. It's one of the most important life lessons we can teach them.