Online Social Networks----Harmless?

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Many parents and educators are concerned about the amount of time youths spend visiting what are called online social networks. These are Internet sites that allow members to create a Web page and enhance it with pictures, videos, and diaries, called blogs. One attraction of such sites is that they enable members to keep in touch with friends. Another is that setting up a Web page allows a youth to express his identity, to "make a statement". The appeal is understandable, for adolescence is a time of learning about oneself and revealing one's feelings in a way that reaches and move others. One problem that arises, tough, is that some individuals create a Web-site persona that reflects who they "want to be" rather than who they are. Such deception is quite common. As with any mode of communication, online social networks can have legitimate uses as well as potential abuses. As a parent, do you know what your children are doing online? Are you sure that your children are using their time wisely? Furthermore, misuse of the internet can expose a youth to a number of serious dangers.