Built With Purpose

According to the 2009 Norton Online Living Report, kids are spending an average of 39 hours a month on the internet, nearly twice as much as their parents think they spend, and 76% of U.S. teens, ages 13-17 “constantly” or “frequently” visit social networking sites. Further, Norton reports that 4 in 10 teens, ages 13-17, have received an online request for personal information and 16% of U.S. children have been approached online by a stranger.

Social networking is a part of everyday life for most kids, and while providing a great platform for communication, self-expression, and engagement, most online communities are also magnets for internet predators, phishing scams, and cyberbullying. So what can you do to protect your kids online without taking away their virtual social life? One answer is Yoursphere. Founded by a concerned mom, Mary Kay Hoal, this kids-only social community provides all the benefits of an online social network without all the hazards. For a small fee of just $3.35/month, your kids can safely engage knowing all members have been vetted through an identity verification process in order to keep sex offenders out.

In addition, Yoursphere takes additional steps to put members’ safety first by protecting their privacy, limiting membership to ages 18 and under, and employing a dedicated safety task force made up of law enforcement officials to protect and serve its membership. Yoursphere’s unprecedented commitment to Internet security serves one goal: to keep your children safe. The result? A secure, dynamic, and rewarding online home where your kids can feel free to be themselves.

If you have kids and are in the same place as described above, then take a look at some options.  Good parenting starts with you.  ISPs, teachers, coaches, neighbors , etc. are their for support and assistance to “help” you raise your kids, but can not be relied on to do it for you.  I plan on writingmore about this in the next few weeks.