KEEPING THE KIDS SAFE

HERE ARE NINE WAYS TO KEEP TABS ON YOUR KID'S TECH USE THIS SUMMER:

Chances are your kid is completely obsessed with texting, video games and Facebook. Am I right? All kids are. With that in mind, here are NINE ways to keep tabs on your kid's tech use this summer.

#1.) Know what they're looking at online: Keep an eye on the parental control settings on your computer's Internet browser . . . and adjust them accordingly.

-If you have older kids who might know how to play with those settings, there are several content blockers on the market that can help you monitor your kid's Internet use . . . and even block certain websites. You know, like the DIRTY kind.

#2.) Manage email, IM and social networking: There's a new product on the market . . . called McAfee's Family Protection software . . . which allows you to monitor your kid's social networking and IMing.

-As an added bonus, the software alerts you when your kids try to reveal their personal information online . . . like their phone number or home address.

#3.) Limit their tech time: There's a device on the market . . . called the Power Cop . . . which can lock the power cord to your TV, video game console and computer, so you can regulate the amount of time your kids spend with their technology.

#4.) Know what they're playing: Certain video games are . . . let's face it . . . completely inappropriate for kids. Keep an eye on which games your kids are playing . . . and set the parental controls to help guard against anything you think is unacceptable.

#5.) Watch their cell phone usage: If you're worried your kid is going to rack up an insane phone bill from all the extra time spent texting this summer . . . try getting junior a calling plan with unlimited text messaging.

-And if you'd rather limit the amount of time your kids spend on the phone, most major wireless providers have plans which allow you to limit usage and downloads.

#6.) Travel with cost-effective technology: Roaming fees and international calling rates can be absolutely insane. To avoid them, try getting a cell phone travel plan. Or have your kid buy a pre-paid cell phone when they reach their destination.

#7.) Put your kids on a leash: There are a bunch of ways to keep track of your kids using GPS technology. One free program . . . called Google Latitude . . . allows you to pinpoint your kid's exact location from your cell phone or computer.

-Most wireless providers offer similar GPS programs . . . for a small fee, of course. And when all else fails, there's always the "Xplorer" shoe, a sneaker designed by the GTX Corporation that comes with a built-in GPS transceiver . . . #8.) Rein in their music purchases: Programs like iTunes allow you to set purchase limits for your kids by tweaking the parental controls. You can also restrict certain songs or movies if you feel they're inappropriate.

#9.) Keep the lines of communication open: Look, you'd have to be pretty overprotective to do all this stuff. If you really want to know what your kids are up to . . . online or otherwise . . . just TALK TO THEM. (ABC News)