Myspace seems to be the big rage on the internet. Reports say that the myspace site is fast becoming a popular as the big boys like Yahoo and Google. This is my opinion, and my opinion only but this popularity is not in my opinion a good thing. Parents if you are concerned about what your children are being exposed to I suggest you keep them off myspace.com. Sexual content, discussion of violence, foul language, drugs, alcohol, and tobacco are all discussed in an acceptable manner – it’s ok to post in profiles, discussion boards, and blogs under the guise that if it doesn’t harm anyone it’s ok as far as I can figure. Add to that the multitude of personal photos posted that are not for some reason considered pornography but look to me much like the photos you might find on the cover of many of the adult magazines that are home delivered in plain brown wrappers. Now, although I do not approve of such sites my time at myspace made me believe with all my heart that this site needs to be limited to “adults only”. But this is not the case! Quoted from the MySpace.com Terms of Use Agreement “Eligibility. Use of and Membership in the MySpace Services is void where prohibited. By using the MySpace Services, you represent and warrant that (a) all registration information you submit is truthful and accurate; (b) you will maintain the accuracy of such information; (c) you are 14 years of age or older; and (d) your use of the MySpace Services does not violate any applicable law or regulation. Your profile may be deleted and your Membership may be terminated without warning, if we believe that you are under 14 years of age.” Yes, you read that right, 14 year old children can have memberships at myspace, can browse all the information on the site, and can add to their “friends” list anyone else with a membership on myspace. What does this mean? First hand experience, a 22 year old man bragging on his myspace profile to be a loving father who in reality now owes one mother of one of his children over $10,000 and has not had contact with his son for 3 years and also has at least one other child who’s mother decided rather than chance having this man have contact with her child has not attempted to get child support from this man. Ok, a lot of people lie or don’t tell the whole truth but how about this myspace member, the same “loving father”, is also a known sex offender? Until recent “political debates” this person was listed publicly on the Michigan sex offender list but because of debate the list seems to only contain people who report as they are legally supposed to. If they don’t report where they are then they are not listed on the current sex offender list. Yet this one man (and who knows how many others are out there) had at least five young women under the age of 18 on his friend’s list. Was one of them your daughter? Is it myspace’s responsibility to check the world for sex offenders? No! Is it myspace’s responsibility to check birth certificates, photo ids, or other means to verify the ages of myspace members? No! Is it myspace’s responsibility to protect our children online? No! Myspace is online to make money, they offer free services but there is no question they are combining their internet popularity with selling ad space to who ever wants to pay the price and those “free profiles” just keep building and building with all the trash you can imagine. MySpace is marketed at a website offering social networking via profiles, blogs, photos, videos, blogs, and discussion groups. This mother (and grandmother) is concerned about this networking on myspace – Children under 14 merely lie about their ages and get memberships, “14” year olds are networking with sex offenders and who knows who else, and we haven’t even discussed the computer problems created by the lack of control over design, profiles, and downloads. Again, this is only one mother’s opinion but myspace needs to be not closed but limited to adults only and I highly recommend all parents take a minute and go to your browser “Tools”, “Internet Options” and block myspace.com – make it so your children can’t even get on the site! It’s much safer for your children, your computer, and your family. Leave this site for the adults who are responsible for themselves! But, PROTECT OUR CHILDREN ONLINE! I support freedom of speech but that doesn’t mean I have to have it in my house and you don't have to allow it in yours. I will add, there are most likely many good people on myspace who aren’t looking for young children, don’t use foul language, don’t promote violence, drugs and such. I commend those people and wish them a great experience on myspace. My ONLY concern is the children who’s parents much like I was a few months ago who are told “it’s a great site, all the kids are using it to chat online” and are not aware of what else or who else is on myspace.com. I have no doubt I will be hit with a rash of disagreement or debate over this article so here, I’ll save you time hunting feel free to email comments to faithfamily@hotmail.com http://byfaithonly.com/MySpace.html
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