Video Violence and the Internet: Tips for Parents
Creating and uploading videos to the Internet can be creative and fun. But like any powerful tool it can be abused if peopled don't use the technology responsibly. A case in point was the video made by a group of teenage girls showing the savage 30-minute beating of a teen who had allegedly trash-talked her attackers on her MySpace page. According to the Pope County Florida Sheriff\'s office, two boys stood guard outside a home while a group of offended girls took their revenge and videotaped the savagery that followed.

Kids may or may not hear about this horrifying incident, but it brings up critical issues that should be addressed with teens. It offers a powerful opportunity for parents to have a conversation with their children about three critical realities kids must be aware of in this age of the computer and the ability to instantly create videos.

Actions have consequences -- cyberbullying is unacceptable.
Talk to your kids about what they say on their MySpace or Facebook or blog pages. Remind them that what they say is public, and if it\'s harassing, humiliating, threatening, or disrespectful, consequences can result.

Talk about cyberbullying. One out of three teens say they\'ve been cyberbullied, according to the Pew Internet and American Life project. Talk to your kids tonight about who they know who\'s been either a bully or a victim. Tell them what the consequences in society -- and in your own house -- will be for any aggressive behavior. And make sure they report any harassment to you or another trusted adult. Violence matters both in real life and on the Internet.

Talk to your kids about the desensitization of violence.
Screaming, cursing, beatings, stabbings, shootings, smack-downs. They\'re in every TV show, movie, music video, and video game. Reality shows normalize outrageous behavior and violence among peer groups. And, yes, our kids can become numb to violence. The more they see, the more "normal" it appears. What kids see on the screen impacts how they view the world.

Talk about your values regarding violent behavior. Consider your kids\' age when you choose examples. Ask them how they would feel in real life if someone they knew was hospitalized from a beating received at the hands of classmates.

Be careful when creating pictures and videos.
Tell your kids never to post anything harassing or obscene. It\'s clear that the girls in the Florida case were filming the beating with the intent of posting it online. Besides the fact that they could be creating evidence of breaking the law, kids have to remember that once something is posted, they lose total control over it. It can roam the Internet forever, freely, and be watched by anyone for any purpose.

Make sure your kids know how to flag offensive or inappropriate content. Doing so keeps the Internet safe and vibrant for all.