Should myspace be limited to poeple over 18 because it is so public?

United States
January 24, 2007 7:03pm CST
Myspace is a very public place, and many parents are not allowing there children to create an account in the fear of strangers contacting there children. What do you think? Would you let your child have a myspace?
1 person likes this
12 responses
@diego9774 (172)
• United States
28 Jan 07
There is a section for parents to read concerning this topic. I have an account, and i have set my account so nobody under 18 can contact me. I know that people can lie about their age. But, more importantly parents should be aware of what their child is doing online.Myspace has a rule that users be 14 or older and you can report underage users. I think that if you have a child you should have access to their email account anyway.
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
28 Jan 07
That is a nice idea, but how can it be enforced, my son had a myspace account, not sure how old he was when set it up, I am going to guess 16 or 17. He set up his cousin with one when he 15 or 16. Neither of them is a real mspace addict and think they did it because of their friends did it. Personally, Myspace is out of control and should be shut down. We recently had 2 young girls from my area kidnapped by someone they met on myspace. The girls were found, they guys arrested. I think rape was involved. This is a dangerous site. Parents should not allow a kid to have internet access when they are unsupervised. They computer should be in a public area. Net nanny or a similar product should come on all computers and parents should have to take an awareness class about the dangers of computers.
• United States
26 Jan 07
My space is only public if you want it to be. You can make it private and only approved friends can view your space. Parents can check who their children's friends are and have more control that way.
@wmaharper (2316)
• United States
26 Jan 07
well, it would be very difficult to limit the age, because people would just lie about thier age, which I think would be more dangerous. Because then you have a 13 year old saying she's 18 talking to another MAN about things a 13 year old ought not know/talk about..and the man prob. would never have talked to her that way had he known she was lieing about her age. YEs there are perverts out there, but banning your children won't neccesarily lessen the risk. I do not think Bannishment is the right choice in THIS situation, as children have access to the internet in other places then your home.. I think you should allow them to have a myspace, as long as they allow you access on it as well, to check up on them and thier friends. Also, you should know all of thier friends and thier parent's friends. I think parents should work together to help watch each other's children, but so often we get caught up in competition of sorts, and become judgemental of each other.
@debny711 (264)
• United States
26 Jan 07
Myspace can be set to private. Mine is private just my friends are allowed on it. My son is 14 and he is set to private. It doesn't have to be public unless you want it to be.
• United States
26 Jan 07
I think if parents can't be parents and moniter what their kids do online, then they need to limit myspace to 18 and over.
• United States
25 Jan 07
I am not sure if I would or not. I think that there are adults on there that should not be allowed to have a myspace. Some of the content is a bit adult, so honestly I probably would not allow my child to have a myspace. Especially since i myself have been offended by some of the content displayed.
@emarie (5442)
• United States
25 Jan 07
nah, i don't think so. i think parents should just be parents and monitor and trust their child online. for all things, not just myspace. my parents never knew i chated and even went out with guys online when i was only 15. although i was smart and safe, i expect to be involved enough in my childrens life that they would tell me. these things. as long as you look as your childs page occasionally and know all of their friends on there, i think it should be okay. also, since they have new privacy settings on there as well. its pretty safe, the parents just have to do their own job.
• United States
25 Jan 07
YES!!!!!! Myspace is too adult themed for children to be allowed on the site. I can't believe that children are allowed on the site anyways. I wonder why in the world would people allow their children to be on the site in the first place. Myspace should raise the age requirement without a doubt.
@cherthis (45)
• United States
25 Jan 07
maybe, but if the moms and dads put the computer in the front room that would cut all that ' who u chatting with'.
@cjayden (110)
• United States
25 Jan 07
I think myspace gets to much crap for being the bad place of strangers..hello ur child is only gonna do what you as the parent allows them to do. How i hate when teens put pictures of themselves on there that are inapropriate, keep there profile public and cry when someone out there says something to them they dont like. I have a myspace account talk with my friends on there and i have no problems with people stalking me or whatever some say.
• United States
25 Jan 07
No. These kids need to be more responsible. Set your profile to private and dont accept all of your friend requests. If you go out adding everyone you can find(friend whoring), you practically deserve to be raped.