myspace

[imported_rachel]

http://www.worldviewweekend.com/secure/cwnetwork/article.php?&ArticleID=518


- In February, a 14-year-old New Jersey girl was found dead in a dumpster after arranging a meeting with a stranger on MySpace.
- A 15-year-old California girl was abducted in December and found murdered in January. Her MySpace page included personal contact information and lots of activity.
- Hartford, Connecticut officials are investigating eight sexual assault cases after teenage girls met men on MySpace.
- In Lafayette, Louisiana four teen girls were sexually assaulted by a local pervert who found them on MySpace.
- In another Louisiana case a predator lay in wait for a teen girl in the parking lot of her place of employment, which he had found on her profile page.

Kids and adults alike have got to understand that their information on MySpace can viewed around the world by anyone at anytime - but the danger lies in the fact that although the web is "world wide", it is also very local.

A book was sent to me to review that says parents shouldn't read diaries (I agree, unless something is terribly amiss) or their kids blogs (c'mon now, get with the times! If Mr. Sicko can read someones childs blog, surely the parent could and should moderate it!) Parents should monitor their kids online activity... folks have always wanted to know where their kids are in the real world. The cyber world is more dangerous. I won't be recommending that book for another reason entirely. It has a very liberal stances on sex and sexual identity. The blog reading comment caught me off guard though. Perhaps it was written before all the "myspace" news of the past month or two.

[stephwhiz]

I agree totally that parents should monitor their children's online activities. My 8 year old son pulled up a nasty chatroom by accident one time and told me "momma what is this? They ask me how old I am and if I'm a boy or a girl." I went to the computer and there were nasty words all over it. I freaked and called for DH to come in there. He immediately installed a block on the computer that only allows certain sites to come up. That incident really opened my eyes. He had been on NickJr.com and DisneyChannel.com so I walked out of the room for a few minutes, things can happen fast on there. Stephanie

[soulmom]

my 11 year old daughter just recently asked if she could have a myspace page because some of her school friends do and we said no, for exactly those reasons. my dh and I have myspace pages, but that is to keep contact with our friends and family. i have heard about some of the nastiness that goes on at myspace and I can't even imagine why any parent would let such young children participate in it.

[meg]

:shock:

Our son, who is 7, is only allowed on DisneyChannel.com to play games, and sometimes CartoonNetwork to play games.

I'd be horrified if he was in chatrooms or anything. Even though you tell your kids not to give out info, little ones can be tricked into it, thinking "Oh well, it's just another kid, it'll be OK."

[maria]

Isn't xanga about the same?

My 9 yr. old was spending the night with a friend a few weekends ago and called to see if she could have a xanga. I almost fell out of my chair! I immediately said no. She should not have been surprised...we've had plenty of talks about online predators and she knows my stand on it. I was surprised, though, that my friend had let her 9 and 14 yr old daughters have one! After she got home we had an in depth talk and she understands better now. I'm just thankful that she had enought sense to ask and not just let the older sister do it anyway.

I totally agree and can't understand the stupidity, laziness, or whatever it is that overcomes these parents to not be more careful with their children online.

[mommyb]

Wow that is so scary! I am so glad this wasn't available (or at least I didn't know if it was) when I was a teen!

[stephwhiz]

There is SO much danger out there. We don't allow our kids on chatrooms, but he was going a search on "playroom" because he likes to decorate his playroom and that is when he went to playroom.com which is the chatroom that I was talking about. [quote]I'd be horrified if he was in chatrooms or anything. Even though you tell your kids not to give out info, little ones can be tricked into it, thinking "Oh well, it's just another kid, it'll be OK."

[stephwhiz]

There is SO much danger out there. We don't allow our kids on chatrooms, but he was going a search on "playroom" because he likes to decorate his playroom and that is when he went to playroom.com which is the chatroom that I was talking about. [quote]I'd be horrified if he was in chatrooms or anything. Even though you tell your kids not to give out info, little ones can be tricked into it, thinking "Oh well, it's just another kid, it'll be OK."

[Madre]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12242009/

[JeanineAnne]

no chatrooms or myspace, xanga or any of that stuff for any of us here...and no plans to

Other than, we are currently building our children's ministry website and we will have forums on there for the kids...but the only way they can sign up is with their parent in person. No online registration. The parent will also receive a seperate log in so they can moderate their child's activity on there as well.

[mama4ever]

My 24 year old son has a blog on my space, he is backsliden.

In what I have seen, there is no way my other children (13 & 9) will get on my space. I have seen some stuff on that site that would make your skin crawl. Keep your kids off.

JeanineAnn that is a good idea. My hubby and I have a web page for my 13 year old and her friends.

[imported_rachel]

Cyber Bullying and Myspace.com
http://spectorsoft.blogspot.com/2006/02/cyber-bullying-and-myspacecom.html


Anyone used the kind of software mentioned at the end?

[BigChill]

Cyberbullying and predators online are a huge problem, with sites like MySpace as well as just the normal chat rooms and message boards. I just read that MySpace is partnering with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children on an ad campaign to educate kids about dangers online - good move for MySpace imo (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,191297,00.html)

As far as the sites that you all mention where your kids were approached, did you report it to CyberTipline? You can report people based on screen names, email addressses, etc. I never hesitate to use it.

[Rach]

it is frightening what happens on my space. Sometimes even a google search will bring up terrible images when you search for something seemingly innocent. (even with moderate safesearch on.)

Our son ahs his own webpage that has links to noggin.com, pbskids.org, hotwheels, and such. that way he's not really browsing the web.

[BigChill]

Just thought of this thread today, I saw that MySpace is going to be incorporated into some new cell phones that are being offered. Seems like a scary step that will further break down the online/real life barrier. I hope kids are smart about it, and that they have Cybertipline on speed dial!!

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,193991,00.html[/url]

[Mom2Three]

My own children have had accounts on my space. Almost immediately my 11 year old had several 'friends' added to her account that she didn't even know. it was scary! :shock: We have to protects our precious kids from this world.

[imported_rachel]

http://www.worldviewweekend.com/secure/cwnetwork/article.php?&ArticleID=760


The pages of sex-film stars like Jenna Jameson and Tera Patrick are quickly becoming popular with America’s teens as evidenced by the thousands of “friends” -- other MySpace users who ask for full access to a user’s page. Those pages, in turn, link to the stars’ own homepages, which are often replete with explicit pornographic images.

[mama4ever]

A good kid's site is talkjesusyouth.com it is for any age and geared to be a safe place for christian kids. :D

[BigChill]

Saw this article and thought of our discussions here - this article has some great stats, tips and resources to keep kids safer online. Enjoy ladies. :D
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=16789112&BRD=1817&PAG=461&dept_id=222071&rfi=6

[imported_rachel]

http://blog.ourchurch.com/2006/08/29/is-myspace-safe/

[danter]

Has anyone ever wondered why God made the teen years the last years we have our children with us? It seems like it would be nice to have an interium stage where we can enjoy each other like when they were small, listened to, respected and looked up to us before they go off on their own and move into the real world. Just a thought. javascript:emoticon(':lol:')
Laughing

[myjoyoverflows]

I realize that this topic has been left for a while...but I'd just like to say a few things from my perspective...again, this is just from me...I'm not trying to say anything to make anyone change their minds...I just want to make a comment.

I have a myspace...I've had it for almost 2 years now. I got it when I was 17 and I was looking for Christian friends in the area. I wasn't in school, didn't drive, didn't go to church, didn't have friends. This was pretty much the only way that I could make some in my area.

You can make your profile private...you can deny people who wish you add you...if you are careful to watch what your child is doing it's not such a bad thing. It's the kids that have parents who aren't there that you hear all these bad things about. If their parents where there, setting limits and compromising, do you think that the bad things would happen so much?

I am very passionate about this kind of a subject because you only ever hear about the bad...and not the good. So here's some good that came from myspace...

My family.

I met my husband through myspace...and now we're married and have a beautiful family...is that what always happens? No. But my family is proof that when you're careful about things, good things can come from it.

I'm not trying to start a debate, I'm just saying that my life is better now because God sent the right person my way through an unexpected place.

[imported_rachel]

You're the first myspace marriage I've heard of :)
Dh and I met online too, but myspace wasn't around yet.

[Timmys mom]

I totally agree Chels! I have a myspace too, and if you're careful with it, it can be totally safe. I don't friend anyone I don't know, but it's been neat catching up with people I knew in high school, and haven't seen for years.

[myjoyoverflows]

You're the first myspace marriage I've heard of :)
Dh and I met online too, but myspace wasn't around yet.

That's refreshing to hear! Not too many people hear good things about people meeting online...mostly what you hear are the bad things...and I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one who has experienced good through the internet!! :D

[danter]

[It isn't the young adults that there is such an uproar about...kudos to you on finding your husband through myspace. It's the kids the uproar is about who CAN'T be watched everywhere, all the time. It just isn't possible. We can set limits for our home during our waking hours, we can't stop kids from using other computers at school, the library, friends homes, etc. Sometimes it isn't possible to be up at odd times of the night to check and keep kids off who have decided no one is going to stop them from being inappropriate in using the internet. It's called sleep deprivation. Please don't judge parents that can't stop these kids. We do the best we can with what we know. When we have intelligent children it becomes almost impossible to keep ahead of them. Pray for us, both parents and children, save the judgements for God. Sorry, I've heard the criticisms quite often on the news and in the newspaper and maybe this will help at least one person know what it's like on the other side.



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[imported_rachel]

If their parents where there, setting limits and compromising, do you think that the bad things would happen so much?


Exacto.

I have a profile on there, if anyone's interested in connecting there, PM me.

[AngieBlessedby3]

Sometimes it isn't possible to be up at odd times of the night to check and keep kids off who have decided no one is going to stop them from being inappropriate in using the internet. It's called sleep deprivation.


Actually.......I use a program called k-9 it allows you to set specific times that the internet can be used. Funny thing is it barks at them when they try to get on at "odd" hours. :lol:

[danter]

My husband attended a professional conference presented by an FBI agent that specializes in myspace and other chat/blog forums. He told me to go to the one that would be presented for parents, and I did. What a great presentation. FBI guy used his computer for a powerpoint presentation, live. FBI guy started some accounts on the spot with fictitious names and descriptions, all teens of one kind or another. You wouldn't believe the responses he got immediately. FBI guy kept one internet guy talking the entire presentation. The internet guy wanted to see a live cam of the "teen". The cam was actually set up, pointing at the auditorium of parents but covered with dark fabric until the end. The guy preying on the "teen" showed himself, asked indecent questions, and suggested the teen do indecent things.

FBI guy suggested different ways teens can respond and showed that few worked to deter guys preying on teens. The FBI says the only way to keep teens safe is not to allow teens to use myspace and other chat/blog sites.

Oh, at the end of the presentation, the FBI turned on the webcam for the internet guy. He saw the audience of parents watching him and immediately signed himself off the internet. Not before we saw his fear and anger at being duped before such a large audience.

The scary part was knowing it easily could have been a teen he was conversing with and sharing his live webcam with.

Just wanted to share.

[jengrant]

Yeah, you have to be careful. I have a myspace, I got one hoping I could find my brother whom I haven't heard from in 2 years. I wasn't going to keep it until one of my good friends got hers and now we use it to keep in touch along with e-mail.