MySpace.com

[vja4Him]

What do you think about MySpace.com? Tonight at church we are having an open forum about social networking, especially concerning MySpace.com.

I have an account at MySpace.com, but am considering cancelling the account, because pronography appears at my home page. I'm glad that I've found other alternative forums that myself and my children to use. MySpace.com is definitely a dangerous place, especially for kids.

-- vja4Him

-- hangin' wit' da' Big Man

[alanraj]

THE STREETS ARE A DANGER TO KIDS.

THE INTERNET IS A DANGER TO KIDS

THE KITCHEN IS A DANGER TO KIDS

THE TELEVISION IS A DANGER TO KIDS...

THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.

TEACH THEM HOW TO DEAL WITH IT AND NOT AVOID IT.

IF YOU CONTINUE MAKING THEM AVOID IT, THEY WOULD FIND A WAY TO GET IT! ----> e.g. cookie jar in kitchen

myspace is not bad....its just the advertisers

try blogspot or msnspaces

[Guest lifeimfor]

Hi vja4Him Young ones here are very interested in My Space. I have Norton Internet Security. Also Parental Controls. My grandchildren are curious about some sites so when Norton blocks them they have to ask for permission. At least this way if they are determined to go there I can give them permission for the one time click and know that is where they are and discuss what they see with them. If it is ok they can have permanet permission. But porn, Norton Internet Security and I don't permit that. They still worry that I'll put them down even on things that really don't matter that much. So at least this way they will get it through their head that I really want to know who they are. I don't like the put down blame games. I am more interested in them finding the LORD. He does have His way of reaching them so I am free to love them. And He will in His time. Prayer is a wonderful tool.

~Life In Christ I'm For~

Edited February 23, 2006 by lifeimfor

[Catsmeow]

If I had young ones, there's NO WAY I'd be allowing them to go on there UNLESS I was hanging over their shoulder.

WHY? Glad you asked. Because I happened to watch the MSNBC special on Child Predators...and learned just how vulnerable kids are in chat rooms and how easily private information kids give away "innocently" is compromised.

I think it's a wise parent to takes a "heads up".

If it were my kids...there'd be some serious policing.

[Rania]

My son took down his MySpace page two nights ago. It's trashy, It's a soap opera and it's filled with predators.

Taking down the page was hard for him to do but the change in the last 48 hours is an awesome start. He's out shooting hoops and playing his guitar a lot, doing his homework and so on.

Please.....if your kids are on MySpace, you're playing with fire.

[Catsmeow]

Maybe do a Google search on MySpace and predators...and see what comes up.

[ice--eyes]

i'm a teenager and i don't see a whole lot wrong with myspace. i got an account, because living in a different country i don't get to see half of my friends and family. with myspace it's an easy way to keep in contact often and see pictures of them and stuff. yeah sometimes i get sent bad messages or whatever but i just ignore them. i ONLY accept people as "friends" if i know them.

if you're really concerned with this site, give your kids guidelines and keep checking up on them. i know teenagers who have PARENTS on myspace, that way you can watch them even closer and make sure they're not doing anything wrong. there's a very small percentage of "predators" out there. and if you've brought your kid up right, they'll know "not to talk to strangers."

[Guest Mrblonde_144000]

Well, IMHO as a teenager, I think that almost anything these days could be seen as offensive or harmful in some way. There are several stories in the news about people murdering others with household objects such as steak knives or antifreeze, however, you wouldn't stop your child from using a knife to cut their food, or from using the antifreeze in their car. Same goes for Myspace- it is true that there are sex predators and other creeps who use the site to harm others, but for every one of those, there are thousands more who use it for its intended purpose, "A place for friends." Parents: you're going to have to let us make our own decisions sooner or later, and by shielding us from every possible harm now, you make us less capable of making healthy decisions as adults, a far more dangerous possibility.

[WillingToDie]

I have an account at MySpace.com, but am considering cancelling the account, because pronography appears at my home page.

You definitely have spyware/adware, most likely a browser hijcker. You could have gotten infected from anywhere, not neccesarily myspace, although I'm sure it's possible.

Also, vja, are you the same vja4Him from Firestream?

WHY? Glad you asked. Because I happened to watch the MSNBC special on Child Predators...and learned just how vulnerable kids are in chat rooms and how easily private information kids give away "innocently" is compromised.

I could be mistaken, but I believe there is a minimum age for registering an account on myspace. And myspace isn't necessarily a chat room, you should probably be more concerned about kids using AIM or other IM services.

i ONLY accept people as "friends" if i know them.

that's the smart thing to do

Parents: you're going to have to let us make our own decisions sooner or later, and by shielding us from every possible harm now, you make us less capable of making healthy decisions as adults, a far more dangerous possibility

I concur.

Mrblonde_144000, you don't happen to post at GameFAQs, do you?

Edited February 24, 2006 by WillingToDie

[vja4Him]

If I had young ones, there's NO WAY I'd be allowing them to go on there UNLESS I was hanging over their shoulder.

WHY? Glad you asked. Because I happened to watch the MSNBC special on Child Predators...and learned just how vulnerable kids are in chat rooms and how easily private information kids give away "innocently" is compromised.

I think it's a wise parent to takes a "heads up".

If it were my kids...there'd be some serious policing.

I agree .... Our church had an open forum on Thursday, two days ago. There were at least 100 adults who showed up, and about 50 kids. They showed the MSN documentary on the problems with social networking and MySpace.com.

Two of the youth pastors, the church counselor and psychologist, and one of the technicians were on a panel to answer questions. The technician started a Christian ministry to reach out to people on MySpace.com. They have had good success with the ministry.

We learned of the dangers and what we can do to help our kids to be safe. Too many young kids are giving out personal information .... Some kids even list their exact schedule, the time and place they will be, and where they are going after that, which makes it very easy for stalkers to find them, stalk them, and do great harm ......

One of the important things that came up during the open forum is that we need to communicate openly with our children, and keep tabs on what they are doing, and what they are sharing with others on MySpace.

There are many good/great alternatives to MySpcae.com. I'm starting another thread for that topic ...... If you have some good alternatives to MySpace.com, please join in the "Alternatives to MySpace" thread ..... See you there ...