In a time when Facebook and Twitter are the new normal for conversation, it is nice to hear that teens and parents are concerned about privacy issues online.

A new poll finds that many parents have new concerns about their children and their privacy online.

The Pew Internet Project and the Berkman Center for Internet & Society at Harvard University just released a new study called “Parents, Teens and Online Privacy.”

  • 81% of parents of online teens say they are concerned about how much information advertisers can learn about their child’s online behavior, with some 46% being “very” concerned.
  • 72% of parents of online teens are concerned about how their child interacts online with people they do not know, with some 53% of parents being “very” concerned.
  • 69% of parents of online teens are concerned about how their child’s online activity might affect their future academic or employment opportunities, with some 44% being “very” concerned about that.
  • 69% of parents of online teens are concerned about how their child manages his or her reputation online, with some 49% being “very” concerned about that.

Take the time to talk to your kids and especially teenagers about what they are posting online.  Their future can depend on their postings of today.