With the easy accessibility of sites like Facebook, YouTube, MySpace and Twitter, the “don’t talk to strangers” lesson goes a step further – now, parents must tell their kids not to talk to strangers online. But with your kids’ social networking profiles visible to anyone in the world, you can never be too sure who is contacting and communicating with your children.

TrueCare is a collaborative Internet monitoring tool that helps protect your children from online predators.  

• Receive alerts whenever TrueCare identifies that an adult “friends” your children, allowing you to identify potentially dangerous relationships early on.
• Monitor and scan your children’s network of friends to ensure mutual connections exist, and get notified when they become friends with someone with no other friends in common.
• Gain access to special screening tools to identify “friends” that may pose risks, and receive the profile information (age, location, gender) of every friend your kids’ network.

What You Should Know About Online Predators

There is estimated to be more than 5 million predators on the Internet, with 77% of their online targets ages 14 and older, and 22% targeting victims between 10 and 13. Online predators can use websites like Facebook, YouTube, MySpace and Twitter to connect with kids, learn their likes and dislikes, and even contact them for a real meeting. If someone “friends” your child, you should also know that person in real-life. If you don’t know them, they should not be your child’s online “friend”.

Talk to your kids about online safety, and encourage them tell you if someone they don’t know has contacted them through the Internet. 

Additional Resources

Website: www.familywatchdog.us  Do you know if there are convicted sex offenders living or working near you? Type in your zip code and Family Watchdog will search for offenders or sign up for free E-mail alerts when offenders move in or out of your neighborhood.