You're completely right, Lex. I don't chat nearly as much as I used to, but I have been in non-adult chats and been hit on in IM, and I'm not a teen, and they had no pic of me. If they'll do that for a 30-something woman, imagine how they'll jump onto a girl (figuratively, not literally--well, that too, if they meet in RL) who's younger!

My 15-year-old niece was on Xanga. I saw some of her friends' (subscribers') Xanga sites, and the stuff some of them posted was not appropriate. Either their parents didn't know, or they didn't care.

I don't know the circumstances, but my niece was recently brought back to her home after running off with or running off to another state to meet up with a 25-year-old man.

I have seen teens posting sexy photos (not necessarily nude, but sexy poses and low-cut tops), saying things like, "Don't I look hot?" and saying they like sex. I've seen photos of girls kissing girls, not because the girls were lesbians, but just because it's "sexy." And look at clothing manufacturers: Some of them make sexy clothes (mini-skirts and tiny tops) for kids as young as 8 and 10! And parents buy them for the kids!!!!!

Some parents say they get exasperated and just give in. I understand it's stressful and sometimes kids get on your last nerves. But you have to protect your kids and teach them right. That's what parents do. And there are places you can go and people you can talk to if it feels like too much sometimes. You don't have to be alone. But you do have to be responsible.