As a parent, I am a big fan of technology, constantly marveling at the opportunities it presents in the home, the workplace, and on the road. But that doesn’t mean I’m not sensitive to the dangers of technology, particularly when it comes to my kids.

How many ways can kids get into trouble with tech? Well, judging by recent newspaper headlines, the list is almost endless. From identity theft, computer fraud, and hacking to predators, cyberbullying, and sexting, there seems to be an enormous number of technology pitfalls for our kids, many of them with potentially serious consequences.

It’s easy for parents to overlook how different today’s web-enabled, always-connected society is from the one we grew up in; how our kids are born into a world of smartphones, video game consoles, digital cameras, and iPads; and how these powerful devices encourage experimentation and decision-making that is not always in a child’s best interests.

Even if most of us have a good working knowledge of the technology we use on an everyday basis, it’s sometimes hard for us to keep pace with the technical expertise of the young and their experience with web-based services. It’s no coincidence that many of the individuals associated with hacking groups like Anonymous are still in their teens.

However, if we are looking for signs of trouble in our children’s online lives, then we need look no further than what they get up to when they are not in front of a computer. Here’s tech expert and author Frederick S. Lane in his book Cybertraps for the Young:

“The first step in determining whether your child is a cyberbully is to simply pay attention to his or her interaction with friends (and with you). What type of things does your child say about other kids? When your child’s friends are around, do they routinely make fun of certain people? Do they tell jokes at the expense of others, or mock particular characteristics of their classmates? If your child has a habit of doing so, it could be a first warning sign that abusive behavior is also taking place online.”

In other words, if your child engages in risky or anti-social behavior offline, then there is a very good chance that he or she will indulge in the same risky and anti-social behavior online. The fact that kids’ behavior in the virtual world often mirrors their actions in the real world provides both comfort and concern. It’s reassuring that we don’t have to learn a completely different set of parenting skills but it’s also a reminder that problems can extend well beyond our usual sphere of influence.

The bottom line for parents is that we have stay involved. We need to know what our kids are doing with technology and stay vigilant; it may be familiar advice but it bears repeating at every opportunity.

I have been compensated for this post. All opinions are my own.