Start communicating.
Connect with your blogging teen! Do whatever it takes to be in on this vital part of your teen's life. Agree to regular family Internet discussions to evaluate and work out problems together. Make the effort to understand what's so cool about MySpace. If you can understand why they want to blog, they might be less defensive when you want them to understand your concerns.
Wise Up.
Let your child educate you in cyberspace. Chances are, your kids are much more Internet-savvy than you are. Ask them to help you! Humble yourself and allow the educational roles in your house to reverse. Let them show you how you'd register and how you'd create a MySpace profile. Point out how easy it would be to lie, how profiles might be fabricated.
Check Up.
You're still the parent, even in cyberspace. There are many wonderful parental safety-control software programs available. Research what's out there and use what you feel you need to stay in control. Always ask to see your child's MySpace profile. If they post photographs, make sure you see which ones. Insist that they never reveal their name, address, school, or other personal info.
Redirect.
Set a time limit or a timeframe when your kids can and can't be online. Encourage your teen to hang with friends in-person, instead of spending so much time in cyberspace. Remind your teen that if you wouldn't say it at a family dinner, in the school auditorium, in church, or on the national news, don't say it online. You can't take it back.
Create a contract.
Hold a family council and draw up a contract for Internet use. Several good contracts are available from websites, like www.safekids.com. Insist that your kids never meet an online friend without telling you first. Parents should give a little, too. Promise not to blame them if they show you emails that have made them uncomfortable.