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struggle with concerns about invading their children's privacy, and these concerns may encourage them to adopt a hands-off approach to the Internet. Trust in a child's decision-making capabilities is best offered when both parents and children are aware of the risks and clear guidelines exist for acceptable Internet use.
Finally, even if parents know the extent to which they want to restrict or monitor their children's use, many are unsure of how to follow through because they lack technical proficiency. Some parents are unsure about using technical tools and may assume (sometimes rightly) that their children may know better than they how to disable a filter or erase temporary log files. Similarly, parents are also frequently unaware of nontechnical strategies that could be helpful in establishing boundaries, defining appropriate behavior online, and developing consequences if their children do not follow the rules. Thompson stated that parents are in great need of strategies that are simple, clear, readily available, easy to use, and that help support them in setting limits for online activity. Educating children about the Internet and how to avoid material parents view as inappropriate should become as routine a part of parenting as teaching a child to cross the street safely.