My three year old daughter knows how to send an “email” on facebook. She knows how to call her daddy on my cell phone. She knows how to play games on the computer. She loves to make videos with my video camera. Technology is a part of her life. The internet is already a fun place for her to hang out. She knows my computer holds videos and games and yes, even people that can entertain her. And as much as I love the internet it also worries me. Like all parents, I want so much to protect her–the internet is just a new area parents have to worry about.

That’s why the Girl Scouts and Microsoft have launched an online safety campaign. A la bloggy meet-ups, Microsoft has invited twenty girls to join their LMK (Let Me Know) panel. These girls explore a new part of internet safety and then “report” back to the teen population via a newsletter and a website: LMK. The topics include cyber-bullying, sexual predators and social networking. It’s a fun website that tackles real issues with real girls. It doesn’t stop with a teen website, there is also a parent website geared for yes, the parents. At Let Me Know parents can sign up for a newsletter and get tips for protecting their children online.

Laurel Richie, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Girl Scouts of the USA says, “This collaboration between Girl Scouts and Microsoft not only bridges the digital generation gap between girls and parents, but it also empowers girls to become leaders and advocates for the safe and responsible use of technology…”

If you have girls (or boys!), check out these new websites. And be informed! Protect your kids and help them learn to protect themselves!

Photo by whiteafrican