Peer-to-peer social web sites are becoming a very hot commodity on the Internet. These sites allow users to create their own profiles, share their interests, chat, e-mail and even engage in live conversations. As wonderful as all that might sound, peer-to-peer site safety rules are important when children and teens intend to set up on these sites.



Peer-to-peer site safety follows most of the basic Internet safety rules, but there are a few extras that can go along with these locations. Since these Internet locations are designed to help "connect" people and keep friends in touch, it is important that parents set some limits to ensure peer-to-peer site safety. Some basic tips to follow for peer-to-peer site safety include:

-Closed access. Many of these sites allow users or parents to block people from viewing profiles. Only those users who are invited to see or granted permission to do so can. This is a great way to limit access to a child's profile and ensure parents maintain a little control along the way. This peer-to-peer safety tip might upset a teen who was hoping to "score a date" with a stranger, but it is simply a wise rule to employ.

-Limit information. Even when peer-to-peer site safety tips are followed to the letter, an undesirable person might slip through and see the profile. To help make sure nothing further happens, it's a good idea that wording within children's and teens' profiles don't give out too much about them. For example, real names, locations, address and phone number should not be listed within a profile.

-Supervise use. Some parents have become peer-to-peer site safety experts by default. This is not a bad thing. With horror stories about 12-year-old girls presenting themselves as 18-year-olds and pedophiles trying to make "love connections" via these sites, parental supervision is the ultimate peer-to-peer site safety tip going. Parents can, on some sites, adjust settings so only they can allow access to their child's pages and they might even be able to receive e-mail notifications of any changes made to the profile, blogging features, chat features and more.

-Limit images. Most sites encourage the use of personal photos, but this isn't always a wise idea. When possible, use good common sense and follow this peer-to-peer safety tip, don't go overboard on personal photos.

-View the site personally. Although it is easy to walk by a 15-year-old and look over his shoulder as he types, this really isn't solid parental supervision. To be 100 percent certain what is going on with these sites, many parents check their children's pages frequently. Knowing is half the battle when it comes to peer-to-peer site safety.

Community sites can be fantastic ways for youth to express themselves, have fun and keep in touch with friends, but they can also present cause for concern. The best peer-to-peer site safety advice is to stay involved, know what's going on and read for yourself. This likely won't make your child happy, but it could prevent some major problems from occurring.