Myspace- teen safety

Do any of your teenagers have myspace pages and if so, do you monitor them? I think my daughter is too young but some of her older friends have them. I know you have to approve friends-- but do you only allow them to agree to be friends with people they already know? Just wondering how you are handling this. What age do you think is suitable for myspace?

My son has a myspace page. I do as well because I told him he could have a page only if I was one of his friends. I monitor it everday. How old is your daughter? My son is 13. They are supposed to be 15, but I think it is ok if you monitor what they are doing. Some people will not agree with me on the age thing, but as long as I am monitoring what goes on then I think it is ok. Just my .02 cents worth.

My son has a myspace page. I do as well because I told him he could have a page only if I was one of his friends. I monitor it everday. How old is your daughter? My son is 13. They are supposed to be 15, but I think it is ok if you monitor what they are doing. Some people will not agree with me on the age thing, but as long as I am monitoring what goes on then I think it is ok. Just my .02 cents worth.

I agree. I think if you are monitoring their every move then it is ok for teenagers to have a myspace page.

I am not one to search myspace for teens, but from what I hear, you best check to see what photos your daughters are posting of themselves. I know that many of the adults (over 18) post some pretty sexy photos, even the shy people. Remembering back a few years, I recall how it was "cool" to be liked by everyone, and for some people today, posting seductive photos of themself on myspace, seems to get the attention. You can see on your home page, the number of people who have checked out your page. I am sure it corresponds directly to the things which are being said and the photos posted by the user.

I find myspace to be a funn connection source for people and music, but I am sure that some people misuse it greatly.

I'm going to start a website to compete with MySpace.

MySpaceBetweenMyEars.com

It will be THE place for vapid conversation.

OL, My daughter (14) has a myspace site and must only accept friends who she already knows. I do not monitor it, but remind her from time to time not to approve anyone to enter her site other than people known to her. She doesn't have a picture showing her face on her info page, and doesn't post too much personal info.

For younger kids, the problem I see is the easy access to a number of sites that I don't think they need to be checking out.

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Definately monitor it, but be aware that there are also ways for them to have more than one page (different name, etc.) and you would only know about the one you "monitor." They all have them, and yes, some (not all) of the girls wear very little and are very promiscuous. My son knows that I monitor his some but he says much more intense conversations (thus more worrisome) are exchanged via text messaging and instant messaging. The myspace page is more of an "identity" or personality resume.

It's the pictures they take of each other and then post them on their myspace page wtih the youth's first and last name!!! That will float out there forever. If your youth does something stupid at a party and then decides to run for office or is entering college, a job interview, it can be traced! There are so many senseless kids that don't have a clue about the damage to their careers & others' this can cause.

It's a real sign of the times. It all goes back to hoping you have taught them to be careful, ethical, and thoughtful. You can only hope.

Okay, once your son or daughter has approved a friend, what stops them from checking out friends of friends of friends?

Nothing... they can just keep going & going & going...

They need to be savvy kids and even a little suspicious of others. Not completely trusting. They will "meet" undesirables. Sorta like we did when we were teens and met undesirables at the beach, the arcade, the movie, the mall. We always knew to be careful. It's the same thing.

Talk about it too. My son rolls his eyes sometime, but he also says he understands where I'm coming from.

My two (17 and 19 years old) don't bother with myspace anymore. They go on facebook.com to talk to their friends. You have to be either college or high school aged to use it and it's smaller and more private, and therefore safer. Not that they don't mind their Ps and Qs anyway. You really have to when you talk on the internet.

I guess the best thing to do if younger teens are accessing sites like that to gab with their friends is to tell them straightforwardly about the dangers that come with the internet. Make them aware and careful.

I don't even think it's safe for adults!!!! Just kidding! I think if my kids ever do get one, I'll be doing some monitoring as well!!!!

Nothing... they can just keep going & going & going...

They need to be savvy kids and even a little suspicious of others. Not completely trusting. They will "meet" undesirables. Sorta like we did when we were teens and met undesirables at the beach, the arcade, the movie, the mall. We always knew to be careful. It's the same thing.

Talk about it too. My son rolls his eyes sometime, but he also says he understands where I'm coming from.

Your son is friends with a super hot 26 year old I know.

Your son is friends with a super hot 26 year old I know.

I figured that! Does he know who you are, Skelly and all?

I figured that! Does he know who you are, Skelly and all?

Oh I hope so!:funn:

Nothing... they can just keep going & going & going...They need to be savvy kids and even a little suspicious of others. Not completely trusting. They will "meet" undesirables. Sorta like we did when we were teens and met undesirables at the beach, the arcade, the movie, the mall. We always knew to be careful. It's the same thing.

Talk about it too. My son rolls his eyes sometime, but he also says he understands where I'm coming from.

That's what I was afraid of...Sam is almost 13 but I'll keep her away from it as long as I can. Now that schools back in full swing she doesn't have a lot of computer time anyway. There's some scarey stuff going on out there. I agree too that education and communication with your child is key.

I see some people who set their profile info to Private, allowing only people listed as "friends" (very loose word which may lose its meaning) to view their profile. This is a good way to keep the general public from viewing your pics, other than the main photo, and the more descriptive info.

My daughter (15) sets hers to private. I have strolled through it when she has left it on my computer. Read some thing I wish I had not but also have to remeber she is a teenager and her group is nothing like when I was growing up. We were trouble! My Space has nothing over Seagrove Beach/Grayton 20 years ago. If my parents only ....

Just remember this. My opposition is not due to the safety issues. You guys have all covered that and I am with you on that. Private Profiles...I understand. My opposition is what they are exposed to. You may as well leave a stack of pornos by the dvd player and say "now, don't watch those" because they can see it all on Myspace. The first time my daughter asked me about it, was right after Taylor Behl, the girl from the college in Virginia, had been murdered. During the news coverage of that murder it mentioned her and her murderers Myspace pages. So...when my daughter asked I checked it out. Almost immediately, I was staring right at a guy in his birthday suit with the heading "take a good look girls before tom deletes me again". Next I see animated sex taking place and this was the avatar of a young girl (age 14). And I could go on and on. It is just not appropriate. If you don't think they will look think again. Kids can't help it.

From a young professional like myself...the below happens from time to time. This was in the NY Post's Page Six last week. And I ALWAYS worked wth this girl.

A FASHION assistant at Life & Style was unceremoniously axed Wednesday night, office insiders say, after colleagues viewed some raunchy amateur videos she?d made. Bridget Grish was told not to return to the office after several people at the celeb weekly began talking about her extracurricular videos. ?Someone then posted something about it on her MySpace page, and Bridget freaked out,? our spy said. Grish, who also goes by the name ?Kitten Delicious,? did not return calls. Life & Style editor Debra Birnbaum said, ?I can?t comment on personnel matters, but this has nothing to do with her no longer being at the magazine.? Maybe Birnbaum was irked that on her MySpace.com page - which has since been cleaned up - Grish notes that on her list of things to do this year is, ?Get a better job.? Grish also stated her best feature is ?my rack,? and said, ?It would be nice if I could remember what happens when I drink.?

Just remember this. My opposition is not due to the safety issues. You guys have all covered that and I am with you on that. Private Profiles...I understand. My opposition is what they are exposed to. You may as well leave a stack of pornos by the dvd player and say "now, don't watch those" because they can see it all on Myspace. The first time my daughter asked me about it, was right after Taylor Behl, the girl from the college in Virginia, had been murdered. During the news coverage of that murder it mentioned her and her murderers Myspace pages. So...when my daughter asked I checked it out. Almost immediately, I was staring right at a guy in his birthday suit with the heading "take a good look girls before tom deletes me again". Next I see animated sex taking place and this was the avatar of a young girl (age 14). And I could go on and on. It is just not appropriate. If you don't think they will look think again. Kids can't help it.

Helloooo! It's the intenet! :roll: The horse has left the barn.

From a young professional like myself...the below happens from time to time. This was in the NY Post's Page Six last week. And I ALWAYS worked wth this girl.

A FASHION assistant at Life & Style was unceremoniously axed Wednesday night, office insiders say, after colleagues viewed some raunchy amateur videos she?d made. Bridget Grish was told not to return to the office after several people at the celeb weekly began talking about her extracurricular videos. ?Someone then posted something about it on her MySpace page, and Bridget freaked out,? our spy said. Grish, who also goes by the name ?Kitten Delicious,? did not return calls. Life & Style editor Debra Birnbaum said, ?I can?t comment on personnel matters, but this has nothing to do with her no longer being at the magazine.? Maybe Birnbaum was irked that on her MySpace.com page - which has since been cleaned up - Grish notes that on her list of things to do this year is, ?Get a better job.? Grish also stated her best feature is ?my rack,? and said, ?It would be nice if I could remember what happens when I drink.?

Lots of people are getting in trouble now. And facebook is no exception for embarassing pics. The worst thing though is when smart alecs post AUBURN FOOTBALL PICS on your page.

The worst thing though is when smart alecs post AUBURN FOOTBALL PICS on your page.

wonder who that might be....:rofl: the season has begun....................:clap_1:

Just remember this. My opposition is not due to the safety issues. You guys have all covered that and I am with you on that. Private Profiles...I understand. My opposition is what they are exposed to. You may as well leave a stack of pornos by the dvd player and say "now, don't watch those" because they can see it all on Myspace. The first time my daughter asked me about it, was right after Taylor Behl, the girl from the college in Virginia, had been murdered. During the news coverage of that murder it mentioned her and her murderers Myspace pages. So...when my daughter asked I checked it out. Almost immediately, I was staring right at a guy in his birthday suit with the heading "take a good look girls before tom deletes me again". Next I see animated sex taking place and this was the avatar of a young girl (age 14). And I could go on and on. It is just not appropriate. If you don't think they will look think again. Kids can't help it.

I am on myspace all the time, and only occasionally, I will see a persons page which is slutty -- rarely, but I am not actively searching for it. If you are concerned with that which your child may see on myspace, you may be missing the big picture of the internet. Type in in body part into any search engine, and you are only one click away from hard core porn.

I am on myspace all the time, and only occasionally, I will see a persons page which is slutty -- rarely, but I am not actively searching for it. If you are concerned with that which your child may see on myspace, you may be missing the big picture of the internet. Type in in body part into any search engine, and you are only one click away from hard core porn.

Exactly my point, but well said SJ. If you have a kid then your kid has seen video of things you have never even thought about. Or I hope you haven't.

Exactly my point, but well said SJ. If you have a kid then your kid has seen video of things you have never even thought about. Or I hope you haven't.

That's what parental controls are for. It works for us right now but I realize there are ways around it.

That's what parental controls are for. It works for us right now but I realize there are ways around it.

Good, because I am sure that kids can search "parental controls" and find out ways in and out of the bad sights without you ever knowing.

I got a good education way back when when someone in my family had a subscription to Playboy and Penthouse. They thought they had them hid, but we were really good about finding them. I say this only to say, teens will look, talk and find things that perhaps we wished they wouldn't, but it is just life. I talk to my son about sex alot, I am not a prude when it comes to things like that. If he has questions, he always comes to me for answers. He have a very open communication about it. I want him to be able to come to me and get straight answers. He is not shy about it and I am glad. Now, I am fully aware that he might also venture to places he shouldn't on the internet, just like I did by finding the magazines and reading them I might add. I am not advocating any child/teen to watch hard core porn I never would be. However, in the same breath I would much rather them see that, than ax murderers, shoot up blood bath movies, and kill everyone in the movie movies. But hey, that is just me.