The terrifying story of Ashleigh Hall is certain to have sent a shiver down the spine of every parent with a computer. Here one parent, the father of a 16-year-old girl and a nine-year-old boy, shares his concerns.

“I gave in years ago and let my daughter set up on Facebook and a couple of other sites. I wasn’t entirely happy about it but was constantly being told I was the only ‘old-fashioned, non-trusting, out of-touch’ parent in the whole of Dorset. She didn’t realise it wasn’t her I didn’t trust – it was everyone else.

“It seemed okay at first – nothing too offensive – at least, nothing I could see.

“Now I feel differently about it. Without meaning to, she’s letting the whole world know where she is and what she’s doing 24/7. Her “status” tells everyone precisely how she’s feeling and what’s bothering her. The whole world can find out when she’s going on holiday, not to mention getting a good look inside our flat in all the pictures posted on her site.

“After a day out or a party, the first thing she does is put hundreds of pictures of said event on her Facebook site. She constantly tells me not to worry and that she’s not stupid but it still worries me.

“Now my son wants to go on Facebook and tells me I’m such a meanie because all his friends are on it. He would certainly be the first to tell me he’s not stupid either. He’s not, but that doesn’t mean he’s able to cope with unwanted attention from people more experienced and manipulative than himself. He’s just not mature enough to smell a rat when a “new friend” makes him an offer he can’t refuse. He’s also naughty enough to make “new friends” simply because I’ve told him not to.

“So far I’ve managed to talk him out of it but it’s only a matter of time before I’m accused, once again, of spoiling his fun.