Their children, however, were born in a very different situation. It is not uncommon to see a iPad next to the crib, and 7.5 million children under 13 have profiles on Facebook.
If parents do not teach online safety, their children can not recognize online or reckless actions of their impact.
1. Understanding Internet Security Before Explain
Many adults are not experts on Internet users themselves. A 2010 study, for example, found that only 51% of the participants acknowledged that the ad companies often determine which ads are shown based on the history of websites visited before.
"Children are learning about all facets of social media online. It is happening much before," said Hilary DeCesare, CEO of Everloop between the social network. "It is parents who do not go together ... The real question is, how to teach children about something that does not feel comfortable with?"
2. Teach, do not rule
"We've always been on the side of education," says Godlis. "Teaching someone and they will learn and understand. They have the power to do the right thing."
"Children do not feel comfortable telling adults [about the problems they find online as cyber bullying] because they think they will get into trouble, or worse, they worry that they will take their privileges to use the Internet , "she says.
3. Consider the social networking age appropriate
Legally, children under 13 should not be on Facebook, MySpace or Twitter. In The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act prevents sites gathering information from children without parental permission. Many children go through this law, even in places to play, simply by adjusting his birthday. But DeCesare says parents should be careful with social networking sites for adults.
"Facebook was never intended for children under 13 years," she says. "Children click on things. What could be a problem, not only friending people, but the malware that collect online. "
Most of these networks restrict the content and provide an element of parental supervision, either by alerting parents when something seems suspicious or ask them to approve certain actions, as new friends.
4. Monitor carefully
No matter your price range or parenting philosophy, there is a choice of appropriate software to monitor their children's safety online.
But Godlis cautions parents against the idea that the use of this service alone is sufficient.
"I think that filters and controls parents a false sense of security - as long as the filters are on, do not have to worry about," he says. "Certainly you can rely too much on it. Children are very smart and move around. They know how to use proxy servers and know how to do things that parents do not."