What’s Up with MySpace?

Does your teen have a myspace account? If you say no, are you sure?  Do you know what your teen is posting on MySpace?

I am not one to say that Myspace is the devil, and that it should be totally banned from society.  As with every technilogical advancement in society, so much of our view of it is how it is used.  And who is using it.

MySpace, Facebook, and other social networking sites, do allow students to share feelings in a somewhat anonymous way.  Let’s face it, a lot of students will post feelings and thoughts on MySpace that they would never dare say to their friends or family. MySpace is a place where students can let their emotions show, because they feel they are protected since it is just a computer.

There are also a lot of dangers to using MySpace and other social networking sites.  The first I can think of is that students place personal info on the site that can be seen by everyone- criminals, enemies, pedophiles, etc.- as well as friends and family.  And I don’t know that teenagers think of the dangers.

While I am not telling you that you should forbid the use of MySpace, facebook, etc., I think as parents you need to be aware of what your students are doing, saying, seeing, on these types of websites.  And more importantly, you need to open a dialogue with your students about the pro’s and con’s of Social Networking Sites, the inherent dangers of posting certain personal information, and the accountability they have to still act like a Christian in cyberspace.

I found a website done by a concerned parent about myspace. Click Here to visit the website.  I will also put it in the blogroll on the right of the screen.