Love it or Hate it, Myspace is a great place
By msbyte
@msbyte (219)
United States
December 30, 2006 9:07pm CST
Many people don't like myspace, they say that kids get exposed to to much stuff and predators are there, etc. etc. Well I like myspace and these are some reasons why:
1. I monitor my teen using it - I know her passwords, everything - I can get a peek into her life, how she feels and thinks but everything she does with her space.
2. I know who her friends are because I can click on their pictures and see what they are all about. No I do not consider this prying, I consider my child my responsibility. *Parents - the Anti-drug
3. I have my own myspace and her friends can see that I am a real person too. They can come to me if they feel like they need someone to talk to
4. It's a great communication tool - when we have youth events, we post a bulletin and the kids know
Last but not least, yes there are predators, but they are in the schools, on the streets, everywhere. Your best friend may be a child predator. Your uncle may be one. Your babysitter. Some of the most trusted people are totally messed up in the head and they know how to get what they want. If you don't teach your kids they will become victims.
I give my kids breathing room to grow and develop, but I insure they have boundaries. If you were raising them on a boat, you would want them to have a life jacket and know how to swim, we need to apply this to all other life situations.
3 people like this
21 responses
@Lady_Vincy (1538)
• United States
3 Jan 07
I love myspace. I get to keep in touch with friends that I haven't seen or spoken to in years. I also get to talk to new and interesting people. It is a wonderful website.
@theaterjunkie (344)
• United States
1 Jan 07
I think that people give Myspace too much bad credit. After all, it's not just the predator's fault if a child gets molested, etc...what the parents really fail to realize is that their children GIVE OUT that information. Myspace has nothing to do with it. And that can go with anyone, like you have proved it.
I have a Myspace...I view it regularly, but I'm careful with people that I add. I only add people that I know.
@justdoit8210 (205)
• Egypt
1 Jan 07
Myspace is cool it is great if you have a band but otherwise it just annoys
I don't hate it either, I think it's a great way to network. I use it to find old friends I'd lost contact with.
another thing i dont like about myspace, all the different colors and backgrounds, not to mention all of the pics that people upload.
@beckyomg1 (6756)
• United States
31 Dec 06
yeah myspace is a good place, i keep track of my kids and thier friends on there, i know there has been lots of bad talk about it but i know what my kids are doing on there.
@pendragon (3350)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I have a myspace for the exact same reason, it doesnt make myspace a great thing at all,its like inviting the uncle predator right into her life , but instead of just her own uncle , she gets everyones uncle.The anonymity of the internet is a dangerous thing to adults say nothing about kids, and maybe you only think you have all the passwords, they might have two or three pages you may not even know about.A predator teacher or janitor could set up an account as a friend,anyone witnessing their world.Never be that calm,or feel that you know everything, you simply don't.
@thisisrightnow (537)
• United States
31 Dec 06
If you know how to properly use myspace and avoid the predators then myspace can be a good thing. No other site would I have been able to catch up on stuff with people I went to high school with, besides like classmates.com, but myspace is completely free.
And like you said, sure there are predators on myspace, but you could have a predator living in your apartment building or live down the street. They could be anywhere.
@marmo1020 (467)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I've had a myspace for years, it only became huge within the last year. I only add people that I know and are friends with . Or bands that I listen to. I don't understand why people will add everyone and anyone, like its a popularity contest.
@testdrive202 (22)
• Canada
31 Dec 06
I agree Myspace is a great communication tool but just don't go overboard with it. As long as they are not obsessed into it, that is fine. There should be a limitation as how much you can disclose. But it seems like you are doing a wonderful job. Trust is a big thing in the family.
@norapp (18)
• Malaysia
31 Dec 06
basically, myspace is just a website and it is much safer than a disco or even the road.
Yes, the risks are there but when people come together on a website and network - we are using the internet to communicate
and do so many other things - the benefits outstrips the negatives ten to one.
@emarie (5442)
• United States
31 Dec 06
well, its great for parents to be with their children and teens online. right now, i don't have a problem since my children aren't old enough to work the computer yet, but i'm preparig myself. i remember beening a teen and my mother still has no clue how to use the internet as much as i do. so she never really monitored me. luckily i knew my way around and i knew what to do and what not to do. parents have to stop complaing about sites like myspace. you should be involved enough in your childs life to know how they are, how they think and trust them to make the right desisions. i like myspace for keeping in touch with my friends and famiy and to network my business. thats one of the best places to go since there are so manny people there.
@GnosticGoddess (5626)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I totally agree with you. I would rather my child have a myspace page than they're own personal email address. They've got tighter on they're privacy settings for kids and it's a lot safer than it was. I like it personally to connect with people I use to go to school with and my family whom I don't normally get to talk to much.
@lilmissyinc (108)
• United States
31 Dec 06
Sounds like you're doing a great job! I won't have teenagers for about another 10 or 12 years, but when I do, I hope I'm as good as you :) I use MySpace to keep in touch and re-connect with old friends, and I've found so many that I haven't seen in a long time, I'm now planning a reunion party!
But the reality of this is, there are predators everywhere on the internet, and they're going to find a way to do what they want no matter what.
@quatelmon (955)
• United States
31 Dec 06
I think it's a great tool for meeting up with old friends, and making some new ones. As long as you are still letting you daughter live her own life, and not bothering her over trivial stuff that she says on myspace, then monitering her on it is a great way to keep her in check! Just make sure you're still giving her enough space. :P Also, it depends on how old she is, or rather, how trustworthy she is as to when you let her have her own page without you knowing her password. It's also great that their friends have an adult to turn to. When I was younger, I had friend's parents that were like that, and it was extreamly helpful. Sounds like you're doing a great job!
