I am delighted to be at SXSW Interactive this weekend, talking with people about everything from sexting to sex ed to teens online.  It’s been an utter delight so far, and I’m sure the rest of the time will be fabulous as well!

I am moderating a panel here at SX called Negotiating the Parent/Teen Over Social Networking.  There will be two teens (one younger, one older) and two parents (with different perspectives on how, when, etc. teens should be online and on social networking sites), and me to moderate the discussion and add the data and research on the topic.  It should be a great time, so come join us on Tuesday at 3:30 on the 3rd floor of the Austin Convention Center in room 10AB.

If you’re just coming to say hi for the first time, you might be wondering a bit about what I do – and maybe why I am at SXSW Interactive.

I work as a parent consultant and as a sex education teacher.  I consult with parents of children and teenagers on how to integrate sex education into their home lives.  I teach classes and teach students individually from middle school, high school, and college, on a very wide range of sex education topics including gender, boundaries, communication, safe sex (including, but not limited to abstinence), and so much more.

If you’re here looking for some of my perspective on sex education, here is my rudimentary approach:

I believe that…
…parents have to talk to their kids about sex.

I believe that…
…everyone has sex, and should therefore know about sex.

I believe that…
…sex is not all bad, even for teenagers.

You can read a more in-depth discussion of these points on my This I Believe page.

I am at SXSW Interactive because I do business online.  I find that SX allows me to talk with people who are knowlegable and experienced about the online experience, and I appreciate the opportunity to talk with them about what it means to do business online.  Additionally, I feel a deep responsibility to stay up-to-date with online and social media and what and how young people are accessing and interacting within this evolving medium.

If you have any questions about any of these topics or more, please do not hesitate to e-mail me (karen.rayne@gmail.com), follow me on Twitter (@karenrayne), or leave a comment below.  I look forward to hearing from you!