With teens and 'tweens on summer break, the American Academy of Pediatrics is urging parents to "friend" their kids.
In online lingo, that means parents should insist on having access to kids' social networking sites in order to keep them out of Internet trouble.
The academy's new advice is directed at "sexting," which refers to sexual photos kids send in online messages. A recent survey suggests about 20 percent of teens have sent such messages.
These messages are considered a crime in some places. They can also cause kids trouble with school officials and in getting jobs or into college.
The pediatricians' group says parents should talk to their kids about why sexting is a bad idea. And they should try to keep an open dialogue about what kids are doing online.
______
Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
In online lingo, that means parents should insist on having access to kids' social networking sites in order to keep them out of Internet trouble.
The academy's new advice is directed at "sexting," which refers to sexual photos kids send in online messages. A recent survey suggests about 20 percent of teens have sent such messages.
These messages are considered a crime in some places. They can also cause kids trouble with school officials and in getting jobs or into college.
The pediatricians' group says parents should talk to their kids about why sexting is a bad idea. And they should try to keep an open dialogue about what kids are doing online.
______
Copyright 2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
