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MySpace and Teens
MySpace.com; What Is It?
- Teens create their own website with their favorite music, pictures, etc.
- Parents are not welcome.
- It started 2 years ago and 50 million users, mostly teens, have already registered.
- According to MySpace.com, up to 160,000 new members join everyday.
- It’s the 3rd most-viewed web site, bigger than Google, eBay, AOL, and Hotmail. And chances are, it’s where your teen already is.
Danger:
- MySpace.com has been called “a candy store for predators.”
- Young people list lots of personal information and no one is policing it.
Tips for Teens:
- Use the privacy controls to set your page to private. Only friends who are invited will be able to access your pages.
- Do not post any seductive pictures in swimsuits, pajamas, or undergarments.
- Never share your last name, city, phone numbers, screen name or information that will make it easy for strangers to contact you.
- One in five adolescents are sexually solicited online. If a predator stranger contacts your child online, send a copy of the e-mail to CyberTipline.com.
- Many colleges and employers search My Space for information about potential students or employees. Be careful what you put out there for the world to see.
There is software that can help you track your child’s activity on MySpace.com. Here is a list of helpful product Web sites:
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