It is ALWAYS better to nurture OPEN communication with your child rather than snoop or accuse them of not being honest with you. It is your RIGHT, obligation, and responsibility to parent your child in this environment.

Know that if you choose to snoop on their online activities, your child may accuse you of invading their privacy. That said, it’s important to note that there is NO PRIVACY on the internet.

Your child needs to understand that WHATEVER information (language and photos) they post online can be read by anyone, downloaded, and kept indefinitely.

It is a reality that typically upstanding, teen scholars have lost scholarships or admittance they've earned to colleges and universities; graduates have lost great job opportunities, and the list goes on, as a result of inappropriate photos or language posted on social networking sites.

Additionally, as stated by the Orange County Sheriff's Department on May 9th, 2006 at Pacifica High School in Garden Grove, California, "because social networking sites are littered with photos of individuals intoxicated, it is now 'assumed' that when a person is holding a plastic cup in an online photo, that person is in the process of becoming or is already intoxicated. It doesn't matter that the cup may only have water in it, it's all a matter of perception.

"Whether it’s right or wrong, know that whatever is posted online today may cause devastating ramifications in years to come!

About the Author: Internet Safety Education Speaker and Consultant

CEO, My Internet Safety Coach.com; Vice President Internet Safety Affairs, Children’s Educational Network

Suzanne Stanford is a public speaking professional specializing in internet safety education. Her personal mission is the welfare of children. Ms. Stanford publishes online internet safety information and speaks around the country on responsible internet use and how to avoid being victimized by online predators. Suzanne Stanford's site: www.myinternetsafetycoach.com