Missing the point
The post entitled 'Load of bollocks' labels itself perfectly.
Firstly, 'thumbing through' magazines, isn't and will not ever be the same as having the world wide web at your fingertips. The former would expose a youngster to new things, whilst this may also be true of the internet, the danger stems from the web surfer (whatever their age) being exposed to new people.
This people are real and whilst the risk may be minimal the predators are not 'imagined'.
The author suggests, 'Kids could actually be more at risk from playing out on the streets', whilst this may or may not be true seems to me irrelevent.
The article is about attempting to prevent rather than cure the problem. When kids play out on the streets their parents surely warn them of the dangers etc. Why should the same not be true of the internet!?
You will never be able to hold your child's hand everytime they cross the road, but the least you can do is teach them to press the button and wait for the lights to change.
Furthermore the potential threats to young internet surfers is not just from adults, but also their peers who they may be unwilliing to speak out against.
I therefore plead you take the anonymous 'load of bollocks' comment with the pinch of salt it deserves. Yet for any parents seeking more helpful/practical advice may I suggest you look towards the new site www.garlik.com