Thanks to the Internet, kids are just a mouse click away from a world of information.But this technology also poses dangers, that some parents may not know how to handle. As Action News reporter Reed Buterbaugh tells us sometimes all you need is a little on-line knowledge, to keep your kids safe. While parents are able pass on lessons on to their children, like not talking to strangers, many parents can't draw from personal experience to teach their kids how to safely navigate the Internet.

"That's one of the dangers right there, the lack of knowledge of the Internet," said Dennis McCabe, New York Assistant Attorney General. "It's sort of a fear that parents might have that they don't know the lingo, so they'll just kind of put it aside."McCabe says parents need to go on an Internet field trip with their children.By seeing how they use the net, parents can get an idea of problems their kids could encounter.

"We've got to make them aware of where the danger spots are on the Internet and what they can do to make sure that the line of communication is open so when they do get to a danger spot they know that they can talk to Mom and Dad," McCabe said. McCabe says cyber-bulling and sexual harassment are largely under-reported, because children don't feel they can talk to their parents about it.

"The kids are absorbing this all themselves," McCabe said. "They're too young really to take this kind of pressure so the parents need to let their kids know that they can come to them. That they've got to open up and tell them when bad things might happen on the Internet."McCabe compares the Internet to a big city, home to many great ideas and information, but also filled with danger spots that should be avoided.If you missed tonight's seminar, there's one more in our area. It's Thursday, December 4th at 6:30 at the Oneonta High School.