It's wonderful for kids to have a forum where they can upload a video of one of their rock concert performances or of a birthday party or of a movie they've made. Everyone likes some recognition and kids take real pleasure from seeing how many people have viewed their productions. But that instant fame can cut both ways. As with any powerful technological tool, videos and the attention they can receive, can be abused.

Wanting an audience is age appropriate.

A fundamental of child development involves mirroring: Kids look to parents, teachers, and friends to get a sense of who they are and how they impact the world. But increasingly, kids find mirrors in online communities -- the MySpaces, the YouTubes, the Facebooks. Through written, pictorial, and video postings, kids send messages out to the world about who they think they are. Then they get reactions back. And the more reactions they get, the more popular they feel. Just consider what a point of pride it is for kids to have hundreds of "friends" on MySpace.

Talk to your kids about being responsible.

Take a moment to talk to your kids about this. See what they think. Ask what their friends think. Do they feel recognized when people rate their online content or post to their pages? What do they think their friends would be willing to do or say to get attention? (They'll be more forthcoming about others ...) How do they separate fame from real accomplishment? And what satisfaction do they receive from their online lives?

These are just a few questions to help you understand the impact this powerful communication outlet has on our kids. It's the future. Taking a moment to discuss it is critical.