SALT LAKE CITY — Do you remember when you opened your first email account?

More than likely, you were much older than children who have email accounts today. Today's youths are using technology and social media at significantly younger ages than previous generations. On average, children get their first cellphone when they are 6 years old, and 7.5 million Facebook users are under the age of 13. This can be overwhelming and scary for parents with young children, especially with so many stories in the news about email scams, online bullying and social media predators.

Regardless of the age you allow your child to create an email account, consider teaching them these five key lessons on Internet and email safety.

1. Their account will be monitored

Inform your child that you will be monitoring their account. Depending on their age and how much independence you are comfortable giving them, there are a few ways to monitor their account. You can set up their account through an email platform designed specifically for children, such as KidsEmail, Tocomail, ZooBuh and Zilladog. Many of these platforms allow parents complete control over their child's account. Or, if you prefer to use a standard email platform — such as Gmail or Yahoo — you can adjust the settings so all emails your child receives are automatically forwarded to your email address. When creating their email address, consider using a variation or abbreviation of their name, as opposed to their full name, for added security.

2. Never share any personal information

One of the most important lessons you can teach your child is to keep personal information private. Write out a list of all off-limit topics and post it near their computer so they remember these items whenever they use their email. A few key pieces of information your child should never share via email include their birth date, full name, address, school, Social Security number, parents' names, and any personal pictures. Along with creating a list of off-limit topics, clarify why. Understanding the reasoning behind your decision helps your child take this rule more seriously. The list wasn't created to limit their access — it's to keep them safe.

3. Never tell a stranger your email address

Just as your child should never reveal personal information online, they should also treat their email address with care. They should share their email address only with their closest friends, and they should never write down their email address on something they could lose. If you're worried about strangers emailing your child or vice versa, several email services allow you to specify the email addresses that your child can email and receive emails from.

4. Be wary of email scams

Spam filters don't catch every piece of junk mail. More than 75 percent of email users who use spam filters still experience phishing attacks. Spam, scams and viruses come in many shapes and forms. Teach your child about the popular types of email scams — including contests, giveaways, instructions and fake messages from "friends" with vague names — and that the only way to avoid being hacked is to immediately delete the message. While spam mail is typically sent from unfamiliar email addresses, email accounts can be hacked. If your child receives a strange email from a friend that includes a link of any kind, they should never click on it or respond to the email. It could install a virus on their computer or hack into their email address. Inform the parent of your child's friend that their email address is compromised so they can change their password.

5. You can't take back a sent message

Nothing is entirely private on the Internet. Once they send a message, they can't take it back. Email should never be used to bully a classmate, fight with a friend or play a prank. They should never send a message they wouldn't want someone else seeing, as it is easy for a message to be intercepted or shared with an unintended reader. The same rule applies to social media and text messaging. Think of email, social media and texting as an in-person interaction. Just as you would be courteous to someone in person, you should mind your manners when writing an email, posting a comment on social media, or sending a text.

Teaching children these five lessons will help them understand the importance of email safety and etiquette. As they get older and use email more responsibly, you can entrust them with more privacy and feel confident they will make smart decisions.

You can find Sarah Pike on Twitter @sarahzpike.

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