I am throwing down a challenge. In the next week, every time you see a child you don't know, find a compliment that has nothing to do with what she's wearing or how he looks. Don't compliment curly hair, or sparkly shoes, or a cool shirt.

There is a place for children to have online relationships, but they are no substitute for the depth and breadth of flesh-and-blood relationships where your children are able to fully connect with other people and completely experience the meaning, satisfaction and joy of human relationships.

I cannot make the world safe or perfect or even more evolved for her but I can tell the truth as I see it. As I turn out her light, I vow to do better, to turn off the noise.

All you as a parent can do is educate yourself about these unhealthy influences on your children and do your best to limit their exposure to those messages and expose to them to positive values that will counteract the bad ones.