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Online safety must be relevant to youth, or we're talking to ourselves. It must accommodate the growing body of research on youth risk and what kids themselves say about how they use digital media, and it must be respectful-of both young people and the new media conditions they're ably exploiting.

One theme at the conference was "one size doesn't fit all." Most kids are actually pretty savvy about keeping themselves safe from serious harm, but others - who are taking big risks - need more serious intervention. Risk prevention specialist Patti Agatston suggested we consider using health prevention models for Internet safety education - basic safety advice for most youth and intense counseling from mental health professionals for the small minority of young people who are taking extraordinary risks both on and offline.