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On July 17th, student delegates, ages 14-17, met in London to discuss current Internet safety and security measures. These 140 students were part of the International Youth Advisory Congress (IYAC), an effort on the part of the Virtual Global Taskforce (VGT) to hear what teens all over the world really think about online safety.

Twenty US student delegates, selected by NetSmartz Workshop, the US Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, and a philanthropic organization attended the Congress, accompanied by NetSmartz Educational Writer Michelle Menillo. As she observed the student-led workgroups and took notes, it became clear to Michelle that there was no substitute for hearing from teens in their own words. Check back over the next few weeks to read about the experiences of the US student delegates in their own unique voices. This week's installment features IYAC delegate Pratik from Nebraska:

If you have a teen driver, then you have probably had more than one conversation about obeying the traffic laws, car maintenance, and keeping the car radio at a reasonable volume. But have you talked to them about driving and using their cell phones, specifically texting? Did you know that in 5 states it is illegal to use anything but a "hands free" wireless device? And in 17 states, including the District of Columbia, all cell phone use is restricted for novice drivers.

Teens like to always be connected, and their familiarity with cell phone technology might convince them that it is OK to text and drive. A study of 16-and 17-year-old-drivers by the American Automotive Association and Seventeen magazine stated that of the teens engaging in risky driving habits, 46% admitted to texting while driving. However, all it takes is 3 seconds of inattention to cause an accident, as 18-year-old Richard Tatum learned when he crashed his car head-on into a cement truck while texting and driving.

When you talk to your teen about healthy use of the Internet, include the need to occasionally be unplugged and make sure that you mention taking a break from the cell phone. Refraining from texting while driving is a definite health issue; in fact, it might just save your teen's life.

All the media headlines about the dangers of the Internet have made parents and guardians more interested in using parental controls. These tools allow parents to monitor their teenagers' use of the Internet—but this is not the most effective method to keep teens safer. The truth is that in some cases blocking and monitoring your teen only tempts him or her to explore and find out what you think is so bad on the Internet, just like we test the limits in other aspects of our lives. I have known kids that try to guess the parental control codes and are often successful.

Most of the time teens are not looking for danger on the Internet, and we feel that by parents and guardians checking up on us, you are invading our privacy. We just want a little freedom! Teens feel that the Internet is an escape, a place for us to express ourselves without judgment. When parents and guardians block the use of these sites, we feel they are trying to prevent us from being ourselves. However, teens know that the Internet can be a dangerous place. I believe this teen generation needs to be better informed on its potential risks, especially the problems that can happen when you expose inappropriate and too much information on the Internet.

Parents/guardians and teens need to communicate with each other about the Internet; keeping us safer online starts with talking to us. It is a good idea for you to know what we are looking at and who we are chatting with, but make some compromises too. If we are willing to explain to and show you exactly what we are doing while on the Internet, you must trust us to use our common sense. I think that it is important for parents and guardians to put some faith in their teenagers. When you show us that you trust us, we don't want to break that trust. This means that we'll think more when we're online, because we don't want to give you a reason to monitor us more closely! And, that's the most effective method to help keep us safer.

Kelly - NetSmartz Teen Intern