Get the Facts

99% of teens use the Internet (Polly Klaas Foundation, 2006)

66% of mothers of teens are just as or more concerned about their teenagers' online safety as they are about drunk driving (62%) and experimenting with drugs (65%).  (Harris Interactive-McAfee 10/2008)

48% of mothers admit they don't know what their kids do online. ) (ibid.)

Only 15% of parents use a software program to monitor what their kids do online. (Harris Interactive-McAfee 10/2008)

Nearly 7% of 12-14 year olds received a request for a nude photo of themselves. (Rochester Institute of Technology, 2008)

Nearly 14% of 12-14 year olds engaged in a sexual chat online. (ibid.)

56% of teens receive requests for personal information; 12% of "tweens" (8-12) (Polly Klaas Foundation, 2006)

54% frequently have private conversations with online strangers through instant messaging; 10% of "tweens" (8-12) (ibid.)

30% reported that they have talked with a cyber-stranger about meeting in person; 4% of "tweens" (ibid.)

1 in 7 children (ages 10-17) receives a sexual solicitation or approach via the Internet in a one-year period (National Center for Missing & Exploited Children: Online Victimization of Youth: Five Years Later, 2006)

1 in 25 children (ages 10-17) receives an aggressive online request resulting in face-to-face meetings, phone calls, money, sent mail or gifts (ibid.)

77% of teens have a personal profile available online, 40% of which say it is viewable by all persons (Pew Internet & American Life Project: Social Networking Websites and Teens, January, 2007)

80% of students are aware of cases of cyber-bullying (TechLearning: Cyber-bullying, Part 2, February, 2008)

94% of students admitting to being cyber-bullied did not tell and adult (ibid.)

53% of families use an Internet filter and 45% of families have monitoring software on the computer that their child uses.  Internet monitoring software that allows parental supervision seems to be more effective than online filtering software in limiting contact with strangers online (Pew Internet & American Life Project: American Teens and Online Safety, October, 2007)