Protect Your Teenager From Online Exploitation

Once something's out on the web it stays there for a very long time, as long as someone's willing to share it with others who are willing to receive it. While it is practically not within your realm of expectations to see your teen in suggestive poses on the web, the fact remains that other teenagers who are not careful enough to pose naked in front of a digital camera or a mobile phone eventually find themselves as unwilling porn stars on the internet.

Such pictures or videos usually begin as a file shared among a group of friends but end up outside the inner circle and into the possession of those who have no qualms in posting it on the net as part of a blog or a website submission. Even if your teenager plans to follow through on the career of porn stars, doing so in this manner can damage his or her self-esteem. You have to warn your child of the risks of unscrupulous picture and video-taking in order to prevent such a possibility.

The first thing you can do is to ensure that your teenager is very much aware of such a risk. Even if he or she trusts the person who takes the photo enough to believe that it won't circulate among friends, the device can be misplaced and browsed by another person and may end up on the internet just the same.

Start out the discussion with a related news article or snippet in an effort to break the ice and refrain from engaging in a full-blown debate. Consider the possibilities of getting in such a situation and talk about the ways to get out of it with a role-playing scenario.

You also need to draw the line when it comes to the proper use of digital cameras and mobile phones with similar accessories. Send an unequivocal message that nude or suggestive pictures can be disparaging your teen regardless of the way it is taken or the intent which goes along with taking it. Make sure that your child commits to the promise of not participating in such acts either in the taking of such pictures or in posing for them.

Be familiar with your teenager's circle of friends and their families so that you can effectively teach him or her how to handle peer pressure once such a situation presents itself. More importantly, it is important that you set the record straight by being a positive role model yourself.

Remember, porn stars are involved in a legally-recognized profession, but teenagers should necessarily refrain from doing or watching videos of an adult nature. If your teenager is involved in the posting of revealing content online, don't hesitate to step in and censor it.

In contrast, if your teenage son or daughter catches you surfing porn stars' sites, be sure to explain to him or her that such activity is age appropriate, and they have to understand what is appropriate for their young age, and contrast this with what is appropriate to mature adults. Avoid the urge to brush it off at the get-go.