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The world of the Internet, traditionally technical, has evolved into a social universe, global in scope and reaching into every area of life. When we were children, our social networking consisted of hours on the telephone, notes passed in school, and hanging out at the malt shop or one of those new "malls" they were starting to build. Now, many malls don't want kids coming without adults, schools don't encourage lingering after class time, and the home telephone just doesn't work for the iPod generation. Instead, their "telephone" has become the Internet of Instant Messaging, video, and uploaded pictures.

Thus came Social Networking to the Internet. Now, MySpace, Facebook, and other "friend-driven" websites attract hundreds of thousands of kids, most of whom are far more Net-savvy than their parents. A typical statistic of this phenomena is that MySpace has over 70 million users and adds more at the rate of 200,000 daily. MySpace certainly leads the pack in the number of users under the age of 18 and eclipses any other medium for children (and adults) as a means to communicate not only with multi-dimensional anonymity, but as many users do, with a virtual, self-created identity. This arena provides an ecommerce opportunity for technically adept and mature people (meaning world-wise, experienced seniors) to offer a much-needed service by assisting the growing numbers of parents baffled by (and suspicious of)  the many hours their children spend glued to computer monitors,  fingers frantically poking keys and clicking the mouse as faces flicker on the screen; images that to the harried mom and pop, strangers in their child's alternate hyperkinetic universe, could belong to another eager kid or just as easily to a predatory adult masquerading as one. The big folk may use e-mail at work, but that's about all they do; this MySpace picture/ text/video/music thing is ‘way beyond them. What's a parent to do???

 Let Knowledge Be Your Power

The Internet that appears to be the source of these parent's problem can also be your avenue as a working senior to help them find a solution. It can be the medium through which you can use your new-found or hard-earned technical expertise coupled with your well-cultivated ability to spot fakers as a means to inform, educate, update, and support these parents in the mutual goal of protecting their children.
Here's some methodologies to do this:

• Use your lifelong curiosity to become a MySpace expert- learn the ins & outs, habits, strategies, and user loopholes of this very complex multi-layered, and powerful electronic social environment. Rest assured there's plenty of third-party information about MySpace on the Net.

• Don't forget other, less well-known but often-used social portals: Xanga, Facebook, Blogger, Friendster, etc. These sites, while lesser known, are also used by kids to connect.

• After you've ramped up on this facet of Internet technology, create a website to present your knowledge and the help you offer to busy and beleaguered parents. It will be the core focal point
  you can refer people to as you network both in person and using the Web.

• Write Informational Products to freely give to parents, not only detailing the training and support you offer them, but also offering them some quick strategies to begin meeting the challenge they're facing in navigating their children's online world.

• Present your service using the best sources of getting in front of busy parents: PTA, Mommy and Me, Parents Without Partners, etc., also Service Organizations, such as Rotary, Lions, Elks, Chamber of Commerce, etc. A good search in your immediate area will reveal many possibilities to whom you can show the "clear and present danger" their children face.

Fill The Niche

Let's face it, most parents today are just too busy with work, household duties, work, the kid's school functions, work, and so it goes. Certainly they're too busy to become MySpace experts or keep up with the latest devious pitfalls that the minefield of social networking websites exposes their children to. You've got the time and commitment to help them; some of the services you can offer as an Online Child Advocate are:

• Create and present a Seminar, Workshop, or give a presentation on protecting children from online predators.

• Write and offer in person and on your website more detailed informational material that you can sell at a reasonable price to educate and inform parents.

• You can use the latest interactive video with free Voice Over Internet phone services to offer "virtual consulting" with more tech-savvy parents. Skype, as well as many telephone providers, offer this technology.