Social networking sites such as Facebook and Myspace can be great tools of expression, but they also pose many dangers.

Members of Montana's Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force say that children and teens may not realize the person they're talking to online may not be who they say they are.

"They have these weird ideas that these people are their soul-mates and that they understand what a 14 year old is going through and they turn out to be these creepy 50 year olds that really aren't their soul-mates," explains MT ICAC Task Force Detective Chris Shermer.

ICAC members say that says by expressing interest in the child's hobbies, a predator can earn a child's trust and convince the child to meet with them.

"Kids that are socially withdrawn tend to be vulnerable on the Internet to Internet predators that will simply contact those children and express interest in their hobbies," adds MT ICAC Task Force Detective, TJ McDermott.  

McDermott added that some red flags to watch for include a child being secretive and burning the midnight oil online. ICAC members also say parents need to make sure the child knows to come to them if they come across something inappropriate online.

Shermer says parents can make sure they have access to their child's social networking site. "If they don't want a parent to look at it, then why don't they? What are they hiding?" he asked.

Shermer added that parents can ask their children to teach them about the different technologies and sites they use.

"Let them have some empowerment with it and then I'm up to speed with it. Just be interested and notified with what things are new out there, but still let them know that I'm going to have some empowerment on these rules and regulations."

Shermer hopes parents begin to discuss with their children about what information they should never give out online.