The popularity of social networking sites like MySpace has really created a need for new monitoring tools. And yes, there are programs parents can use to keep abreast of a child's online identity.

For instance, MySpace is developing its own monitoring program called Zephyr which can be installed on the family computer. You can see information your child has revealed about their name, age, school, and the physical locations of their home. The software will also update parents if information in a child's profile has changed.

In addition to Zephyr, there's another option. BeNetSafe offers a web-based notification service for parents whose kids are on MySpace, Friendster or Xanga. You can also get a list of who your kid's "friends" are on these sites.