April 7, 2008

Virginia is the first state to make internet safety lessons mandatory for all grade levels. It's just one of many steps being taken nationally in order to protect kids online.

The state's requirement initially began out of concern for children online and protecting them from sexual predators, going into effect this school year.

Right now other states are considering similar legislation. Nationally Texas and Illinois have passed their own internet safety education laws but unlike Virginia those laws don't make the courses mandatory.

Just earlier this year, the social networking site MySpace agreed with 49 states to create a task force to come up with ways to protect kids online. In Charlottesville at the Computers4Kids after school program, every student that comes goes through a number of internet safety classes before they start using the computers.

And while the internet can be very helpful it can also be very dangerous.

"The internet is wonderful. Kids can get help with their home work, explore their interests, and research projects for school but it's important for kids to know that not everything and not everyone that they meet online is actually who they say they are," said Lisa Romano of Computers4Kids.

Experts say the best way to protect your kids is to be aware of what sites they visit and warn them against talking to strangers. A 2006 study by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children showed 13% of kids online received unwanted sexual solicitations.