Troubled Teens Resources

Parents are well aware of the dangers that lay waiting for young kids and teens on the internet. Parents can feel overwhelmed that there is yet another area of their at-risk teen’s life that they must monitor.

Unfortunately, stories surface in the news everyday about young teens who have responded in chat rooms or in emails to predators with often tragic consequences. Troubled teens are no match for the sophistication of these adults who prey on their innocence, pretending to be peers, exploiting a teens natural tendency for adventure or independence by luring them into revealing their names or addresses.

• 14% have actually met face-to-face with a person they had known only through the Internet (9% of 13- to 15-year-olds and 22% of 16- to 17-year-olds).
• 30% have considered meeting someone they’ve only communicated with online.
• 71% reported receiving messages online from someone they don’t know.
• 45% have been asked for personal information by someone they don’t know.
• When teens receive messages online from someone they don’t know, 40% usually reply to and chat with that person.
• Only 18% said they tell a parent or guardian that they received a message from someone they don’t know.

The internet is yet another arena where parents have to stake out and make safe for their at-risk teens. The degree of dangers inherent in the internet for the unsuspecting teen has created another cause for teen crisis intervention in an effort to circumvent the predator’s goals. The best intervention is prevention and clear guidelines are the beginning. Below is a list of basis that parents should adhere to.

1. Create House Rules
2. Consider using security software for your computers.
3. Create Passwords
4. Keep the computers in the Family Room
5. Don’t be Afraid to Ask
6. Talk about Chat Rooms
7. Go Online Yourself
8. Talk about Spam
9. Watch out for Dangerous E-mails
10. Talk about Music Downloading

(source)