I AM starting to lose count, folks.

TNP FILE PICTURE

Have you been keeping track of the number of young people who have put their pictures online, and got caught with pants down or skirts up?

It is mind boggling, isn't it?

Almost every other day, there is someone either posting their naked pictures online or being exposed that way by somebody else with access to their accounts.

The most recent, which was reported by online portal Stomp earlier this week, showed an 18-year-old girl and her boyfriend in a sexual pose.

And no one 'saboed' this girl - she posted the photo on her own blog, gushing over her love for her national serviceman boyfriend.

Whatever happened to the concept of shame?

Are these the moral values our brave new world is teaching kids?

Would our generation have been the same if every one of us had a portable video camera on hand (in a mobile phone)?

Or have kids changed over the years?

I worry because there are two of these creatures in my house, and they seem to be getting older and taller each day.

One is 10 this month and the other turns six in July.

I know it's still early to have to worry about indecent blogging, but then again, I like to prepare myself early for potential pitfalls.

I believe the most important thing in this regard is to help our kids differentiate between the private and the public.

As long as they are living in my house and under my rules, I will insist that they keep private matters to themselves and not publish it for the world to see.

Own time and dime

If they choose to live by their own norms, then do so elsewhere, and on their own time and dime.

I am sorry if I sound harsh but I think the line has to be drawn somewhere.

What these silly kids don't seem to realise is that their pictures not only embarrass them, but also hit and hurt the people they love.

And while we are at it, it is also a big no to multiple piercings, tattoos, cigarettes and things I don't even want to mention.

I am prepared to accept iPhones and Facebook pages as normal for the younger generation.

Even then, there will be rules governing their use, and the line between private and public will be drawn as clear as the eye can see.

So any signs of uncovered behinds online will be met with a swift kick in the same region, in real life.

A kick out the door.

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