From a network communication system first developed in the 1950's to aid space research and exploration, the internet today has grown into an everyday form of communication, interaction and social tool for billions of users worldwide. The children of this generation are now growing up in a virtual world that did not exist for us when we were their age, and so parents today are faced with an uncharted territory of dangers.

Especially with the recent explosion of social networks with the likes of Facebook, MySpace and YouTube over the past decade, kids nowadays can live a double virtual life that may seem harmless at first, but without proper guidance, can lead to uncontrollable consequences. So we as parents must be vigilant and not forget to teach our kids how to conduct themselves online, just as much as we are teaching our kids how to conduct their manners and behavior in life.

I know that many parents can get very confused with the online world that have become second nature to our kids. It does seem like a scary territory. So I just want to share this article I found by Alyssa Avant, founder and creator of Pro-tech the Kids.com which helps educate parents about the dangers of the internet and other technology and how they can be proactive about protecting their tech generation kids. Here are some of the main tips she shares:

1. Don't be afraid to ask your kids questions about their online activity.

You are responsible for your children, so don't let your children feel that this is their "private" space. You'd just as much ask your children about what they're doing during and after school and who they're hanging out with, and it's crucial you also know what online influences they are exposed to so you can help advise and guide them. Make it conversational and share with them what you do online too. By not being investigative and treating it as an everyday sharing activity, they'll happy to tell you what they're doing online just as they would be happy to talk about what happened at school.

2. Always have access to their computer even if they have personal laptop or desktop PC.

While privacy and respect are important, there are simply too many dangers and influences in cyberspace to leave them alone in the world wide web. Whether it be a character on Second Life, creating an actual sex website that they get paid for, or they become known for their personality and charm that they may not show to those in real life. It is truly shocking what kids are able to do online that they might not ever do in real life. So it's important that you have access, and that they know this isn't their private space for them to do anything they want.

3. Do you know where your children are at? Always know their logins and passwords and be aware of where they "hang out" online

It's not that you're trying to be a Private Investigator, but just as you would take down the phone number of your kid's best friend's mom when say she stays over at her friend's for a slumber party, this is simply being able to access where your kids are and what they're doing. Don't abuse it of course, otherwise you'll lose their trust. A great way to do this is by helping your kids setup their accounts. Sit down with them and help setup their email account or Facebook account. Become a part of their online lives as much as their offline lives and set the boundaries clearly and respectfully.

To read the whole article from Alyssa, click here, or visit http://pro-techthekids.com/ for further information.

If any of you also have any other tips or concerns to share, just leave your comments below!

Melissa