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What Teenagers Need to Know About MySpace

MySpace can be a great Web site to hang out on, but you need to be careful about what you post there.

A lot of kids these days have profiles on a Web site called MySpace, a social networking site that lets you post a profile and create a network of friends that you can communicate with. There are a bunch of other social networking sites out there that do the same thing, including Friendster, Facebook, Xanga, and LiveJournal.

On MySpace, you can make your own Web page where you can post pictures, music and blog entries. You can also use the site to send instant messages and emails to other users. Setting up an account is easy; all you need to do is enter your name, address, and email address, and create a password. You can then set up your page however you want by using tools that MySpace has or other tools you can find online.

MySpace has became a popular hang out for teenagers since kids can create their own online community and express themselves with their profiles. But there are a lot of things you need to be careful about when you use MySpace.

The biggest thing is making sure you don't post too much information on your profile. It may not seem like a big deal to put your name, phone number, or school on your page, but somebody could use this information to find you and hurt you. You should also be careful about talking to people you meet on MySpace that you don't know in real life, since they may not be who they say they are. You should definitely not meet with anybody you met on MySpace unless you talk to your parents first. Some kids have already been hurt by people who met them on MySpace.

Also, some kids use MySpace to trash other kids, teachers, and parents. This is called cyberbullying, and it can hurt people's feelings and get you into trouble. Before you post something about a person, think about how they would feel if they saw it. And if somebody is saying something mean about you online, talk to your parents.

MySpace has rules about how you're allowed to use their site, and you should always follow them. Kids under 14 aren't allowed to post profiles, and you are not allowed to post revealing pictures or personal information. MySpace has employees who try to visit all its pages to make sure the rules are being followed. If you're breaking the rules, they'll probably find you sooner or later and delete your profile. Your school may also have rules about having MySpace accounts. You should follow these rules since you can get into big trouble for breaking them, and you may even get suspended.

While there are risks to being on MySpace, the site can be a lot of fun and a great way to express yourself. Here are some tips for using MySpace safely:

  • Never post personal information such as your address and phone number on your MySpace profile.
  • Set your profile to Private so that only people you know can view your profile.
  • Be sure to read the Privacy Policy carefully before clicking on ‘I Agree’ when you set up an account.
  • When talking to strangers, be careful about the kind of information you reveal to them.
  • Make sure you are comfortable sharing with the world the profile, blogs, pictures, etc. that you post. Remember that anyone can see the stuff you post unless you set your profile to Private.
  • Talk to your parents about the friends you make on MySpace, and tell them if you encounter any kind of cyberbullying.

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