ing their interpersonal skills, children are withdrawing from real life and spending more time on the computer (Meltz, 2000). Younger children are especially prone to having their feelings hurt because, since cybertalk does not involve tonality, they may misunderstand what is being said and take offense.
Another danger is in the pretense that can go on over the internet (Meltz, 2000). No one really knows who they are talking to. Often pedophiles and child pornographers Alisten@ in on kids who often engage in sexual fantasies, and try to lure them into meetings off line. It is estimated that about 12 percent to 13 percent of preteens who engage in cybertalk agree to meet offline with someone they have met online, even though they have no idea who this person is or how old they really are.
The most dangerous places on the internet for children, according to Magid (1999) are chat rooms, newsgroups and e-mail programs where kids can disclose personal information about themselv
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