Blogging, instant messaging, profiles, and posting comments, may leave the average adult scratching their head, but to today's teenager, they're a vital part of communicating with friends.

In the last two years, social networking sites such as Myspace, Facebook, and Xanga have risen in popularity and have acted as an outlet for teens to express themselves. They're posting pictures with friends, decorating a personal webpage (profile), and blogging about their day-to-day adventures or thoughts, most without filters and available with a simple search on the web.

Federal Way resident Kelly Maloney has been working for the past two years in creating a safer alternative for teens to communicate on the web.

Seeing the need for teens to network with friends via the web, Maloney has taken on the responsibility of making today's teen safer.

"Kids know Myspace is unsafe, but they still do it," said Maloney. "It's up to adults to create a safe place for kids."

Maloney first became aware of the social networking phenomena two years ago when her 14-year-old daughter signed up for Myspace.

"I looked at it and thought, this is going to be bad," Maloney said.

At the time, Maloney was running her own marketing company from home and decided to start a new website as a branch of that company.

The result was Red Star hs.

With no previous experience in web design she got a program that allows people to create a website without having to know HTML code. HTML code is a complicated standard to create a webpage.

With the idea to keep the site focused on what teens want to see and read about, Maloney came up with activities to drive the website's popularity.

"It's up to kids to submit an idea about what they want to do and I do it," said Maloney.

Maloney's ultimate goal for Red Star hs is to have it a social networking site where teenagers can do safe web blogging.

There needs to be certain safe guards that adults cannot access, said Maloney.

She is currently working on technology with a variety of filters to make this happen but it all depends on the amount of funding needed.

Currently the website hosts advertisers that help generate some of the funds needed.

A popular feature of Red Star hs is that it keeps the teens in a local atmosphere where they can write in about their schools and sports, Maloney said.

Students can become high school correspondents and submit articles about their school and receive $50 a month for the submissions.

Since the site started in February 2005, it's been gaining popularity and now averages 2,300 hits (views) per month.

"It's just been by word of mouth, from kid to kid," said Maloney.

Maloney met with Tom Murphy, superintendent of the Federal Way School District, and was able to talk with students in various high schools about the website.

Petitions were handed out and 100 percent of the students signed them wanting to be apart of a safe social networking site, said Maloney.

The website is also host to contests.

In April 2006 the site launched a model call and 100 students between the ages of 13 and 19 entered.

Of the 100 students, between 10 and 12 were chosen to participate based on their enthusiasm, said Maloney.

Joni Atkinson, photographer with Simply Stated Photography, did the whole photo shoot for free.

When the website was explained to her, "she immediately said yes," said Maloney.

"It struck me when I first heard about it because I have a teenager myself," said Atkinson. "I think it's a great alternative, it's something they (teenagers) can relate to."

The teenagers participated in an all day photo shoot that included an outside shoot at Steel Lake Park. And as a part of the contest, the winners' pictures were sent to modeling agencies. The pictures also appear on the website.

Atkinson's own son is now a high school correspondent writing sports articles for the website.

"He also got some of his friends involved and they've told their friends," Atkinson said.

The site is currently holding a contest for teenagers to submit information on how they heard about Red Star hs, and one randomly selected entry can win $50.

As the site gains more popularity Maloney hopes that it can grow outside of its local roots.

"I built the website so it can grow," said Maloney. "I would love for it to be embraced by the community."

And as the website grows Maloney knows there will be a need for further support. But acknowledges that must also be met with safeguards as well.

"Every adult that will work for the site will get a full background check," Maloney said. "I have to be consciences of the people working on the site with me."