Organizations set up Internet hotlines to reach teens

Teens have constantly been warned about online predators, but only a few may know where to turn to seek help and advice privately. Organizations who specialize in helping abused teens are turning to the Web to reach a generation that feels more comfortable opening up online than on a phone line. Online hotlines are booming as a result, as organizations reach out to Generation Y through social networks, SMS, and instant messaging.

Earlier this month, the Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network (RAINN), the nation’s largest anti-sexual assault organization, launched a secure instant-messaging hotline to counsel young people too shy to pick up a phone. RAINN president and founder Scott Berkowitz, said young sexual assault victims are turning to insecure chat rooms, blogs, and social networking sites for help not realizing the dangers of such actions.

To combat this trend, RAINN partnered with McAffe to build its web-based hotline from the ground up, thus providing people with a secure and anonymous place where they can chat privately with trained operators. According to the site, the Online Hotline does not capture a user's IP address, nor does it record transcripts of sessions.

Another organization who has seen much success online is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, who turned to social networks like MySpace and Facebook. According to an article in USA Today, the organization now receives 20,000 visitors per month from its MySpace page alone. "One might say that if the Internet were a phone line, our site would be ringing off the hook," says John Draper, Lifeline manager.

And what about cell phones? Teens love their mobile phones, and those seeking information about sexually transmitted diseases can request advice via text alerts from SexInfoSF.org. The site was set up by the Internet Sexuality Information Services, who also runs a service at inSpot that gives STD carriers a way to alert their sex partners with anonymous eCards.

I'm sure there are plenty of other online hotlines out there, so if you know of any, share them in the comments below.