New security service helps parents monitor harmful online behavior

By Staff Writer

Safe Communications has introduced an online security service that aims to protect children from cyberbullying and other vulgar messages.

In conjunction with the annual Consumer Electronics Show, Safe Communications opened registration on MouseMail.com on Thursday. The free service allows parents to screen emails, text messages and other web-based social activity that may contain offensive or sexually-suggestive language.

Through a filtering program, MouseMail.com's service flags and blocks messages that could be harmful to kids. The company will release new technology later this month that will allow parents to monitor social websites and other websites for explicit content.

"Children's access to these technologies is a fact of life, and parental involvement in their digital communications is vital to keeping them safe," said John P. Venners, President of Safe Communications, Inc.

In a press release, Safe Communications reported that between 20 to 40 percent of children have been cyberbullied, and at least 15 percent of teens have sent sexually suggestive photos of themselves to their peers.

Problem teens who engage in unhealthy online behavior may benefit from wilderness therapy, which utilizes a nature-based setting to provide rehabilitation. Parents could also implement tough love and take away their children's mobile devices.