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Teenagers already use online communications to take on difficult topics with one another, said Katelyn McKenna, a research assistant professor in psychology at New York University. Preliminary results from a study she conducted last year, she said, suggest that "they are able to talk with one another about issues that bother them more readily online than when they are talking face to face."

This is nuts! If these people had started out talking to their children and being honest with them they wouldn't have to talk "openly" with them through the computer.

I don't think its too far off the mark, IMHO. It could be a problem if people prefer to use IM as the only way to discuss issues with their children, but thats probably not whats happening most of the time. I do agree that if you have a crappy relationship with you kids, IM will not help you solve any communciation problem. But if its healthy to start with, IM'ing them wont hurt it either.