"My daughter is on Myspace.com and I'm concerned..."

Q: My daughter is on Myspace.com and I'm concerned about the people she's meeting. What can I do?

— B.P., Miami, Fla.

A: You are right to be concerned. In recent weeks, the press has reported on a number of investigations into physical and sexual assaults of teenagers involving community sites. As a parent, you need to understand how teenagers use the Internet and how they interact online.

Friendster.com or Myspace.com are social-networking sites where teenagers can interact with people from around the country and the world, potentially meeting hundreds of people online each month.

On these sites, teenagers create Web pages that can include information about their interests and passions. They can post personal photographs or videos. Viewers can learn such things as where someone goes to school, what their interests are and what they look like.

However, predators and strangers use that information to search for and interact with potential victims. Authorities are aware that sexual predators use online communities, and have initiated a number of programs to catch them.

Understand these online dangers and discuss the following with your children:

• Find out if your teenagers are interacting with others online, and explore the sites they use.

• Make it clear to teens that revealing names, addresses, telephone numbers, passwords and other sensitive or personal information can jeopardize their safety. This includes favorite sports team, health club or links to Web sites or other profiles that might give this information away.

• If your teen decides to get together with someone encountered online, make sure you find out the person's name and where the meeting is taking place. Then, supervise the meeting.

Denying access will not prevent teenagers from accessing the Internet. They will still go online at school or on a friend's computer. Don't shy away from the problem — confront it directly.

Eric Gertler, United Feature Syndicate Have a question? Send it to heretohelp@seattletimes.com or call 206-464-2525.