Know what the consequences are if your teen posts something that is inappropriate on his personal page. Don’t be afraid to tell your child what could happen to him in the long term.

1. Require that the computer/laptop remain in an open area inside your home, with the monitor visible to others passing through, rather than in your teen’s bedroom. Be aware that cell phones and other hand-held digital devices now allow access to the Internet.
   
2. Talk to your kids about why they are on a social networking site(s), how they communicate with others  and how they represent themselves on these sites.
3. Social networking sites and forums are PUBLIC spaces. Make it clear to your teen that any information they post about themselves, their family or their friends is open for the world to see, including photos and videos. Discuss what is safe to post, as well as what isn’t.
4. Communicate the dangers and consequences of posting inappropriate or too much personal information. Monitor who their “friends” are online and make sure they are people your teen already knows. If your teen wants to add a new person, set a rule that new people have to be cleared through you BEFORE being accepted as an online friend. If the rule is broken, enforce a meaningful consequence like cutting off the computer privilege for a week or two.
5. Review your teen’s Web page or blog together and make this a regular activity, so they aren’t tempted to add inappropriate content after the fact.
6. Be consistent with setting rules and be specific about rules pertaining to alcohol and substance abuse references on your teen’s Web pages. Make sure they know that this is not acceptable behavior and that consequences can have a long-term impact on their future successes.

For advice on how to open the conversation about general computer use and how much time your teen is spending online, visit TheAntiDrug.com’s “Conversations for Parents: My Teen is Lost in Cyberspace.” 

If you need extra help monitoring your teen’s activities online, like filtering software, then visit “Monitoring Tools” for additional suggestions.