Article When it comes to the Internet, teenage girls are extremely computer-savvy, but also emotionally vulnerable and disturbed by how frequently they are exposed to sexual content online, according to a study from the Girl Scout Research Institute (GSRI), conducted with the assistance of Girl Games, Inc.

   Computer-savvy girls are considered "smart," "fun," and "social" by those in the study, and most agree that girls who do not spend time on the computer risk being regarded as unqualified for good jobs in the future. Girls use the Internet as an outlet to express intense emotions and build social self-confidence, and said they find their online experiences mainly positive, empowering, and safe.

   However, the study found that sometimes they rely too much on their own judgment in making decisions about how to behave online. When asked how they know what is safe or unsafe behavior on the Internet, 84% cited their own common sense; 51% stated learning from parents; and four percent said "nothing is that bad online because it's not really real." (Multiple responses were permitted.) Unfortunately for some teenage girls, common sense does not always protect them. The Net Effect found that: 

· Thirty percent of online respondents reported that they had been sexually harassed in a chat room.

· Only seven percent informed their mothers or fathers about the harassment, most fearing their parents would overreact and ban them from computer usage altogether.

· Most girls try to avoid pornographic sites, calling them "disturbing," but say they are frequently spammed or end up on these sites accidentally.

· Some fail to see online crime as serious because it is in the realm of cyberspace.

   "Girls are extremely aware of Internet dangers, but feel that parents underestimate their level of awareness about online risks," explains Whitney Roban, lead researcher of the study. She cites girls' desire for adults fully to understand their online lives as one of the key findings: "Girls want to continue to enjoy the benefits of the Internet, and they want to do it safely."

   Girls concede that they think they can do many inappropriate things online without their parents' knowledge. Eighty-six percent said they could chat in a chat room with parents' knowledge; 57% could read parents' e-mail; and 54% could carry on a cyber affair. While girls report rarely entering into cyber romances, they often think about cyber relationships. They usually don't discuss these feelings with parents because they sense they won't be understood. At the same time, most girls think they are "too smart" to do bad things, but feel that they deserve more trust from their parents.

From: http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1272/is_2685_130/ai_87706330/Accessed May 18, 2011.