Do You Know Where Your Kids Are...

... on the internet? Keeping track of your kids is tough, and knowing where they are on the internet is getting harder. The Better Business Bureau Children's Advertising Review Unit is asking parents to teach their kids and tweens about surfing safely on the internet. Sit down with them and let them know to stop and come talk with you about situations on the internet like these:

1. Visiting a website that asks for financial information
2. Websites that asks for personal information like home addresses, phone numbers, e-mails. etc.
3. Receiving inappropriate messages and pictures
4. Posting pictures of themselves
5. Being harassed and bullied through social networks, e-mails or instant messaging
6. Getting a friend request from someone they don't know
7. Signing up for "free" ringtones, music or games.

To learn more about online safety for your kids visit the Children's Advertising Review Unit web site by clicking here.

Kaiser Family Foundation and Media Use

If your kids are like mine they probably spend a lot of time either playing video games or sitting at the computer. The Kaiser Family Foundation as just released it's report of media consumption by children ages 8 to 18. The findings are pretty interesting. The biggest finding is that kids are using media entertainment 7.5 hours PER DAY!! This includes video games, mp3 players, TV, etc. I found that to be a bit excessive. That's almost as much time I spend at work! For more information on the report click the link below.

Radio Business Report/Television Business Report - Voice of the Broadcasting Industry

Kids Top Internet Searches for 2009

From OnlineFamily.Norton.com, here are some statistics regarding teen internet use:

• YouTube, Google, and Facebook top the list


• Sex and Porn round out the top 5


• Kids spend most of their time searching for music related topics (30%), then TV/movie related topics (12%).


• The most popular celebrity kids searched for was Michael Jackson. Taylor Swift came in second.


• Team Jacob won over Team Edward, with Taylor Lautner coming in at #80 and Robert Pattinson being nonexistent in the top 100.


• Other top celebs on kids’ list of searches include Miley Cyrus, Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Selena Gomez, Lil Wayne, Megan Fox, Eminem, Beyonce, Britney Spears, Demi Lovato, Black Eyed Peas, Jonas Brothers, Rihanna, and Chris Brown.


• Kids are searching for shopping sites like eBay, Walmart, Target, and Best Buy.

For more on kids use of the internet click here.