Ask a teenager about the difference between their online life and real life and they may not know what you’re talking about—for many kids, it all blends together. Yet there are differences.

Digital technologies amplify the opportunities we have to communicate our thoughts, access information, and express our creativity. These tools can also affect the kinds of risks we face, and the consequences of thoughtless actions. New technologies often give rise to “techno panics” in which the potential dangers are exaggerated or misunderstood, so it’s important to learn about the actual risks and how prevalent they are.

Inappropriate Contact

The threat of predators abducting children gets lots of publicity, but is extremely rare. Children are at far greater risk of abuse from relatives than from “stranger danger.” Most children ignore or block unknown or suspicious messages. However, a small group of kids who show several real-life risk factors are in greater danger of being susceptible to predators or others who mean harm.

Inappropriate Conduct

A larger percentage of children may be victims or perpetrators of cyberbullying and other mean and nasty behaviors. What happens at school or on the playground can, with cell phones and mobile devices, take place anywhere, anytime. Many kids are able to manage or resolve the issues themselves, but others will need appropriate adult intervention.

Children rarely think about the long term consequences of their actions and may post images or descriptions of themselves engaging in inappropriate behaviors without realizing the speed with which they can be shared, the potential reach, or the permanence of something once it’s posted online. Sexting, photos of drinking or abuse of drugs, and reckless comments on a social networking site can harm a child’s digital reputation and, in some cases, lead to prosecution.

Inappropriate Content

Children are naturally curious and may be accidentally exposed to, or actively seek out, inappropriate content such as pornography, or sites inciting racial or ethnic hatred. However, a smaller group of children may seek information about harmful and risky behaviors, such as sites that advocate anorexia and bulimia, drug use, or cutting. Parental controls can be particularly helpful in keeping younger children from accidentally seeing or actively searching for inappropriate content.