if you go on hotmail they have family safety - and believe me its very tight! You have authority on who emails and who doesn't basically and in the two years my daughter has had one it has not slipped up. Don't tell the child the password though. I would be more worried they will sign up themselves to the chat rooms as this is where all the problems are occuring. Keep the laptop in a public place and let him know you are watching him - its strict but it is the only way to keep them safe. I think there might be some good guidance on the site i posted by the police.