mySpace and Your Teenager

by James Fowler
www.mywebsource1.com


MySpace is the second most popular web property in the world! Since appearing in January 2004, the site – as of today – has 143.6 million accounts, and - according to Wired Magazine- is adding around 270,000 new users A DAY. Of those 143 million, about one-fourth are minors. It is responsible for one of the largest online expansions in history, growing 752% in 2005. This would explain why Rupert Murdoch purchased mySpace for $580 million dollars in 2005, despite concerns of it being only a fad. A fad? Hardly. mySpace brings in almost $15 million dollars a month through its online advertising sales.

But, I am sure you have heard. mySpace is also the home of sexual predators and pedophiles and murderers, oh my! There are robbers and thieves and con artists waiting to pull our children into their web of evil! Just take a look at the evening news or read the paper! They even have web sites that will laud you with tales of mySpace atrocities. You can find them at www.mycrimespace.com – a blog dedicated to scaring the bejeezus out of every parent and pantophobe on the planet. If that doesn't do the trick, a little searching will bring you to the mySpace wall of Dead Kids where you can read the stories of how stupid kids met their demise through mySpace.

Everywhere you look, people are in mass hysteria over the mySpace phenomenon. Political action groups are moving towards creating legislation against cyber predators and bullies. Parents can now sign up for just $5.95/month to spy on their children to make sure they aren't doing anything illegal or dangerous. mySpace has been banned from high schools and libraries across the nation, and kids are buying books on cracking the 'myBan'.

It really is crazy. What has happened is that the media has found yet another way to drive up their ratings and readership. They have taken a new technology and have stirred it up with sex, drugs, murder, violence, music, and children. They have taken this volatile mixture and added fear. They publicize it at every turn and have inverted the story into an electronic boogeyman with parents and authorities the ones cringing in the night.

I am not going to lie to you. There are bad people on mySpace. They are the ones that your mother warned you about and they mean you and your family harm. These people should be caught and punished to the highest extent of the law. But mySpace is a community. There are bad people that can be found in any community and you can find them at the library, in the movie theater, or walking down the street.

According to a recent survey done by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the number of children being approached by pedophiles and sex offenders has dropped – counter to what the media reports. This may be attributed to a growing awareness created by the media, but it also may be because more police departments are actively seeking out offenders.

So, why is there such a great fear attributed to the mySpace phenomenon? Is it that people are preying on our teens? Or is it that this new technology has been embraced by teenagers and the parents and authorities of our time have no control over this new "rock-n-roll" consuming our youth.

mySpace has made strides forward in protecting children in the past year. They exclude children under the age of 14 from making a mySpace page. If you are an adult, you cannot look for anyone under the age of 18. But let me be frank: If someone wants to find your child on mySpace they are going to be able to do so. mySpace could post a banner every time your child signs online telling them to BEWARE OF PEOPLE YOU DON'T KNOW and kids will still do stupid things that may end them in trouble.


The following safety tips are provided for those interested in adding a buffer of protection for your children. Note, if your kids still want to get into trouble, they will, but let them know

Safety Tip #1 – Use Your Privacy Setting:
If you are a MySpace user, or the parent of one, be aware that there is a privacy setting that can allow only people the user knows to communicate with them. This is to prevent strangers from trying to join in unsolicited communications, but if a stranger does want to meet someone who has a private account he/she can get to the account user through one of their friends who don't have a private account. For this reason, it is vital that whenever someone the user doesn't know is trying to contact them, they should delete the information as it comes in. If the person continues to try and contact your child, there is a link on the bottom of every MySpace web page entitled "Report a problem" that goes directly to the security department to notify them of the situation.

Safety Tip #2 - MySpace owns all of it's subscriber's content!
Be aware that MySpace claims "ownership" of all pictures, words, audio, etc. that a member or user posts. One of the reasons MySpace owns the content is to assist law enforcement in the investigation and evidence of a possible threat or crime. The reason for owning this information is also because this data has monetary value as it pertains to commerce and buying habits. Many corporations pay "data mining" companies for consumer information. When MySpace users go to commerce websites, the information of where they are going and what they are looking at, or if they are buying is recorded. Just remember: Nothing is private on the internet. Beware of what you post!