Parent poll on Net safety

Where their kids' use of the Internet's concerned, parents' greatest fear is sexual predators, a new study by CommonSenseMedia.org found. "Still, they perceive other dangers to be more likely to occur: 80% are concerned about sexual predators online; 39% think that they are likely to happen to their kids, according to the study press release. Among media in general, the Internet is seen as the most risky - 85% of parents thinks so, vs. 13% for TV. In other findings:

Other concerns after sexual predation are kids' exposure to values parents don't agree with (72%); kids' exposure to ideas they're not ready to see (70%); lack of outdoor time (71%), computer viruses (76%), and experimentation with porn (55%).

82% said there was "no excuse for not knowing enough to protect your kids."

98% said they trust their own instincts where the Net's concerned.

53% of parents say their kids have accidentally found inappropriate content in a Web search.

70% know their kid’s email password, vs. 52% for the IM password

78% feel social networks are not a safe way for kids to meet new people online.

Here's coverage of the study at USATODAY and the San Francisco Chronicle. CommonSenseMedia now has an Internet-safety Web site too.