I love technology.

Ten years ago I had to go into a radio station to record my commentaries; now I record them on my home computer and post them somewhere in cyberspace where radio stations find and download them.

I used to buy and wade through piles of newspapers and specialized publications; now I go online and get far more free more information then I can possibly use, and Google Alerts collect and sort daily news stories on any topic I’m interested in.

Even my phone is an incredibly sophisticated computer that lets me send and receive e-mails; buy and enjoy books, music, and movies; find the weather anywhere in the world; and discover my exact location.

I’ve tried to keep up, but I confess technology is passing me by.

I don’t instant message, video chat, or tweet. I’m not Linked in and don’t Digg it. I’ve got personal and institutional Facebook pages, but I haven’t taken the time to figure out how to use them.

Part of me wants to say “Enough already!” but I can’t afford to get off the technology express because my children are on it and I can’t let them travel alone. The irreversible fact is, this generation is continually integrating new technologies into their lives that dictate the way they study, communicate, and interact.

This isn’t all bad.

Evolving uses of digital communication and the Internet present many wonderful opportunities to learn and grow, but it would be irresponsible to ignore the risks of letting young people wander unsupervised in a world full of lurking hazards and temptations that they may not be ready to deal with.

I can’t get so lazy or indifferent that I allow a technology gap to prevent me from monitoring, guiding, and enforcing sensible ground rules. It’s my job as a parent.

This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.