Parents Need to get the Know-How on Children\'s Chatrooms _

[An informed parent (FF Visitor)]

You can the read the full article at: http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/parenting/child+safety+online-247722.html

The problem with canned chat (what some are calling "safe chat") is that no child will use it more than once, and so they move to a messenger service where this is absolutely NO moderation, such as Yahoo or AOL or Skype. This is much more dangerous than allowing them to chat with CHOSEN friends approved by the parent. And a reputable site will have 24.7 moderation in real-time.

Here's an alternative, teach your children how to be safe on line the way you teach them to be safe offline. Don't talk to strangers, don't tell your personal details to strangers, be a good citizen.

A potential predator can not force information out of anyone. And though they are manipulative, they are no more manipulative than someone trusted in the community who gets more information from family than they normally do from the kids they prey upon.

Also, just so you can experience it, go try canned chat yourself...there is nothing "fun" about canned chat. All the studies show that nobody uses it.