We've all heard the stories of child predators using chat rooms and now social networking sites to stalk their victims. We've also heard the stories of law enforcement officers posing as teenagers to lure and nab these creeps, but, sadly, there are too many bad guys (and gals) out there and not enough people to catch them.

That's why I was pleased to see the announcement today that MySpace and attorneys general in the Multi-State Working Group on Social Networking--representing 49 states and the District of Columbia (Texas is not represented)--have come out with a Joint Statement on Key Principles of Social Networking Sites Safety.

These principles are designed for industry-wide adoption. According to a press release from News Corp., owner of MySpace, "The Joint Statement on Key Principles of Social Networking Sites Safety recognizes that an ongoing industry effort is required to keep up with the latest technological developments and to find additional ways to protect teens. The Attorneys General called on other social networking sites and Internet providers with community features to adopt the principles and bring their sites up to par with MySpace in terms of safety."

The principles include site design and functionality measures, such as making the profiles of users of a certain age automatically private, and protecting those users from being contacted by adults that they don't already know in the physical world. The principles also call for an online safety task force, as well as guidelines for law enforcement cooperation.

This is all good, but I think one of the most important pieces of this initiative is education and tools for parents and educators. Who among us hasn't watched in awe as a young person takes a device he or she has never seen before and not only immediately uses it effectively but also learns the device's every feature and capability in a matter of minutes? It's the same thing with MySpace and other social networks and community sites--kids know how to use them, and they know how to game them.

I won't pretend that I have my finger on the entire population of parents of teenage and tween-age children, but I'd venture to guess that most of these parents have nowhere near the exposure to MySpace and sites of its ilk that their children do. Do you know what your kids are doing online? Do you know who they're talking to? Do you know if they have a MySpace account, and what's on it? Do you know how to get to MySpace?

According to the press release, "MySpace will explore the establishment of a children's e-mail registry that will empower parents to prevent their children from having access to MySpace or any other social networking site. In addition, under the principles MySpace will increase its communications with consumers who report a complaint about inappropriate content or activity on the site."

This is all well and good, but for many, it's like closing the barn door after the horse has escaped. And, what's the next big thing? When MySpace is so yesterday, will the principles put forth by this group apply?

Don't get me wrong: I am all for applying some controls and providing guidance around social networking sites. I just think, as with so many things, it's important to be proactive.

It's 10 p.m.: Do you know where your children are (online)?