"Get familiar with social networking yourself: If you, as a parent, are uncomfortable with online social networking sites, spend some time getting familiar with them.  It will then be easier for you to sit down with your kids to have an open discussion about how they use the sites, which sites they are on, and the type of content they provide on their sites.  Microsoft has developed a site at http://safety.msn.com to provide even more guidelines for what children of different ages should be able to access online.  When parents educate themselves about social networking, they and their children reap the benefits. 
 
"Talk with your kids: I encourage you to sit down and walk through your kids' social networking sites to help them identify if they have appropriate information posted. 

The following can be used as a guideline in that discussion to ensure the best online experience possible:

"Lose the last name on your site.  Also, do not post other people’s full names.  To be even safer, don’t use your first name or a nickname that would attract the wrong kind of attention and make you vulnerable to potential predators.

"Drop any info that locates you.  Omit details about your school, place of employment or the town where you live.

"Consider whether or not you really want your social networking space completely public.  Think of this as a sliding scale - the more personal or identifiable the information you want to share, the fewer people you should share it with.

"Be smart about photos. What’s on your shirt?  Avoid posting photos that include clothing with the name of a high school, sports team or last name on a jersey. What’s in the background?  Do not post photos that show street signs or addresses of local landmarks or even your house.  These visuals will give strangers too much information.

"Be savvy about what your friends include about you on their sites and blogs.  You may not be the one putting yourself at risk.  Consistently check friends’ sites to see what they are writing about. They could be saying how you and your family are going on vacation, so you won’t be around to hang out with.  This flags the fact that your home will be empty and vulnerable to burglary. Make sure to openly talk to your friends about what is appropriate to post. A good friend will respect your privacy and take information down that you do not wish to share.

"If you think there’s a problem, report it immediately.  It doesn’t matter if you have to admit that you may have done something unwise without thinking about the implications.  It is important to tell your parents or police as soon as a problem arises."