Xulon Press : We make Christian book publishing fast, easy and affordable
March 15
Parent Issues Warning about Online Networking Sites
MySpace may not be as harmless as you think

LONGWOOD, FL-For most people, sexual predators aren't the problem when it comes to social networking websites such as MySpace or Facebook. But many parents don't realize a child can be damaged by what they learn from social networking peers. W.D. Edmiston, author of Why Parents Should Fear MySpace: The Saga of Rick Rokr (paperback, 978-1-60034-992-8; hardcover, 978-1-60034-993-5), offers parents a reality check about the damaging effects of such websites on long-term identity and personality, and he suggests that deeper parent-child relationships are required to combat the effect of such sites.

Edmiston's experience with adolescents extends back to his tenure as two-time chief of police in Texas, where he dealt with adolescent issues on a daily basis. His most valuable insight, however, came from losing his son, Rick, to the forces described in this book. Why Parents Should Fear MySpace serves as a foil to the insidious forces at work in social networking situations and promotes an understanding in parents of the need to protect their at-risk children.

"Parents should read this book to gain insight," says Edmiston. "It can help their child better deal with the pressures of adolescence and stay on the course toward adulthood." The author warns that children are especially vulnerable, as they are just beginning to form their identities: "Social networking is not like chatting on the phone. It is a gateway to a world of confusing and contradictory ideas about life."

W.D. Edmiston, MSCJ, is a career law enforcement professional who is now employed full-time in adoption services. He teaches certification courses for foster parents.

Xulon Press, a part of Salem Communications Corporation, is the world's largest Christian publisher, with more than 3,900 titles published to date. Retailers may order Why Parents Should Fear MySpace through Ingram Book Company and/or Spring Arbor Book Distributors. Salem Communications is the country's leading Christian communications company with interests in radio, Internet, and magazine publishing.