Making MySpace a Safe Space

Today's teenagers spend an increasing amount of time online - more than half of kids ages 12-17 go online on a daily basis - and one of the most popular online hangouts right now is the social networking site MySpace. Social networking sites allow users to post profiles of themselves and create a network of friends that they communicate with.

Social networking sites allow users to post profiles of themselves and create a network of friends that they communicate with. MySpace is only one of many social networking sites on the Web. Others include Friendster, Facebook, Xanga, and LiveJournal, all of which offer many of the same features as MySpace.

On MySpace, users can create their own personal Web pages where they can post pictures, music and blog entries. They 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 customize your profile using the MySpace tool or one of several editors available online. These tools make it easy for even novice computer users to create personalized pages with music, photos, and unique layouts.

MySpace rose to prominence as a place where up-and-coming bands could post music and create an online fan community; however, it quickly became a popular hang out for teenagers. The site is a place where teenagers can create their own online community, away from the watchful gaze of parents and teachers, and this fact has led many parents to worry about what exactly their kids are doing on MySpace.

The main problem on MySpace comes from teenagers posting too much information. The main problem on MySpace comes from teenagers posting too much information. Many teens think nothing of posting personal information on their profile, such as their phone number, address, and school, but posting this information can get them into trouble since it could lead to somebody finding them offline.

The anonymity of the Internet makes it easy to quickly build trust and intimacy, and predators take advantage of this anonymity to build online relationships with inexperienced young people. Sometimes they are able to convince children to meet them in person, which could lead to a dangerous situation. There have already been a few recorded cases of online predators using MySpace to contact underage children.

Cyberbullying, where kids bully or harass each other through email, IM and chat rooms, is another threat to kids on MySpace. Sometimes kids use the site to spread rumors about others and bash people they don't like, including teachers.

Another problem is teens posting revealing photos of themselves, which can come back to haunt them. While the rules of the site specifically prohibit posting explicit photographs and personal identifying information, these things often go unnoticed.

While there are risks to being on websites like MySpace, social networking can be a great tool for teenagers to express themselves and connect with other kids, as long as they are careful about what they post. Here are some tips for safety:

• 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 interacting with 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 the information you post is available to anyone unless you set your profile to Private.
• Parents: Keep an eye on the kind of Web browsing your children do and the Web sites they sign up for. Talk with them regularly about the friends they make through such Web sites, and ask them if they have encountered any kind of cyberbullying.

References

• MySpace  (Wikipedia)
• Don't Talk to Invisible Strangers  (New York Times)