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Today's youth spend a lot of time on the internet.  Here are some links that can help you as a parent better understand what is going on:

• CBS News: Think Before Posting Your Info Online
• CBS News: Online Flirtation Takes A Dangerous Turn
• CBS News: When Teens Tell All
• CBS News: Tips To Stay Safe Online
• AgapePress: Internet Porn, Plus Child Predators, Make Web Doubly Dangerous for Children
• FT.com: MySpace acts to calm teen safety fears
• CBS News: Sleep-Deprived Teens Paying Price
• USAToday.com: What you say online could haunt you
• TheSource4YM.com: A Window into the "MySpace" Generation - Part II
• TheSource4YM.com: A Window into the "MySpace" Generation - Part I
• I Lead Youth.com: Culture Shocks
• CBS News: Growing Target For ID Thieves: Kids
• CBS News: MySpace: Your Kids' Danger?
• KCRG - TV9 Special Report(video):  Liz Mathis Reports: Internet Dangers
• KCRG - TV9 Special Report: Liz Mathis Reports: Internet Dangers
• USA Today: Survey: One in five teens have own blogs
• I Lead Youth.com: Help Your Teens Practice Safe Blogging
• cpyu.org: Dear diary, dear world
• cpyu.org: Finding teenagers online: A step-by-step approach to navigating their online world
• USA Today: Teens hang out at MySpace
• BusinessWeek online: The MySpace Generation
• PR Newswire: Third Annual AOL Instant Messaging Trends Survey Shows IM Has Taken Over the Desktop
• USA Today: Teens wear their hearts on their blog
• CBS News: Guarging Against On-Line Predators
• Schools grapple with policing students' online journals

When not on the internet, what else are youth doing?  Be prepared to be shocked.

• CBS News: Scaring Kids Straight, Off Methadone
• CBS News: Campaign Highlights Horror Of Meth
• ABC News: Kids Slug it Out for Fun
• The Barna Group: Teenagers
• MyWestTexas.com: Studies: Parents' attitudes on sex do matter to kids
• The Sunday Times - Britain: Self-harmers to be given clean blades
• Hus Church: Self Injury (originally posted on Battlecry.com)
• rd.com: Thrills That Kill, Kids are taking risks in dangerous new ways.
• Today's Christian Woman: Cutting Edge, Why even Christian teens aren't immune from the epidemic of self mutilation--and what you can do.
• TeensHealth: Cutting
• TeensHealth: How Can I Help a Friend Who Cuts?
• L.A.Youth: Cutting away the pain
• townhall.com: The new youth craze: Self-mutilation
• TeensHealt: Eating Disorders: Anorexia and Bulimia
• abc News: Teens Court Danger with Risky Behavior
• Lewis-Clark State College: Behavior can be baffling when young minds are taking shape
• rense.com: Teen Binge Drinking Can Do Long-Term Brain Damage
• crosswalk.com: How Far Is Too Far?
• Medical News Today: Many Teens Who Take "Virginity Pledges" Substitute Other High-Risk Behavior for Intercourse, Study Says
• Sexual Ethics, A Christian Conjecture: The Dating Dilemma & How Far is Too Far
• The Heritage Foundation: Sexually Active Teenagers Are More Likely to Be Depressed and to Attempt Suicide
• rd.com: That's Outrageous!: No-Strings Sex
• MSNBC.com: Nearly 3 in 10 young teens 'sexually active'
• USAToday.com: Teens define sex in new ways

What can you do?

• 4Parents.gov
• American Center for Character and Cultural Education
• BlogSafety.com
• CBS News: Protect Kids On MySpace
• CBS News: Helping Your Kids Blog Safely
• Child & Family WebGuide
• Common Sense.com
• Common Sense Media.com
• Family First
• Family Life
• Fathers.com
• Focus On The Family
• Focus On Your Child
• Moms In Touch International
• MOPS
• National Center for Missing & Exploited Children
• National Sleep Foundation
• Parent Soup
• realFamilies.com
• rd.com: A Get-Along Guide for Parents of Teens
• SafeTeens.com
• SafeKids.com
• Software4Parents 
• The Truth Project (Focus on the Family)
• wired SAFETY 

Teen Blog Sites

• MySpace
• Xanga
• Facebook
• Blogger

(New links added periodically-shown in red)
Updated 07.24.2006