Social networking sites can be great places for teenagers to make friends and find acceptance. But they can also enhance feelings of grief, sorrow and despair.

"Cyberspace is fertile ground for suicide contagion. It provides a forum for prolonged and excessive grieving in a highly charged, emotional atmosphere - precisely the kind of atmosphere psychologists warn to avoid. ... It is also unmonitored by all but the most vigilant parents."

Psychologist and counselor Scott Poland warns that continued exposure to tragedy, especially suicide, puts a teenager at increased risk. It's a healthy warning for parents to pay attention to the social networking worlds in which their children spend so much time.

Labels: depression, influences, internet

About one in four American children ages 3 to 17 years old participates in virtual worlds on the Internet. This means every month about 8.2 million children play games on websites like Webkinz and Club Penquin, according to research by Nielsen NetRatings.

By 2011, the same researchers estimate that about half of all American children will participate in computerized worlds of animals, games and avatars.

Labels: internet, virtual_worlds