Your child is surfing the Internet and comes across a site offering a gift in exchange for personal information, such as allowance amount and the types of cars the family owns. If you are concerned about any of the answers, talk to your child about them. A study shows that many teenagers would when enticed with a gift, such as a bike or computer game or a chance at prizes.
Information is a coin of exchange on the Net.
A new law prohibits most Web sites from seeking personal information from children under 13 without a parent's consent, but the ban doesn't extend to teenagers. The study, by the Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania, asked children and parents whether they were willing to disclose shopping preferences and other personal information on the Internet in exchange for a great free gift. Children, particularly teenage boys, were far more willing to provide that information than were parents, the study showed. Spend more time discussing Internet privacy with your children and be explicit with your instructions, said Joseph Turow, one of the study's authors. For example, teach your children to look for a privacy policy when they enter a Web site that asks for information about them.