MySpace Gets More Bad News

I have 2 girls ages 10 & 13. The 13 yr old went on myspace and put in her profile that she was 16 and made a profile for my 10 yr old that said she was 20. I wrote them an e-mail asking them why they thought it was ok to put pedophiles and kids on the same website. Of course I got no answer. My kids are not allowed on that site anymore.

All the freedom America offers means people need to self regulate or if Americans can't self regulate lets get rid of democracy. And let the government tell us what to do. Even when to eat.
Kym I commend you for being a parent and not a friend to your kids.
Myspace is like a street. A street allows people to meet and get from one place to another the street made by people can't be held responsible for the car crashes that occur on it otherwise the DMV, DOT, Fed Gov't and the people who built it should be sued for every accident on the road.
I worked in the CT Leg as an intern & Blumenthal only cares about getting his name in the paper. He went after Tobacco, Microsoft, and now Myspace, but has he gone after internal corruption within the state? Not that I've seen and the same sentiment is shared by my law professor as well as many other CT ers.

I would also like to commend you, Kym, for your actions.
I work in a public library and the hands-down, most popular site nowadays is myspace. The vast majority of users I see are under 17 years old. Most are high schoolers, some are younger.

Now, we have rules about what content is viewable (no, we don't use filters/nanny programs), but that really only covers images/videos. I cannot read over a person's shoulder to make sure they aren't reading something bad or that the person they are chatting with is "legit". I do not have the ability to watch that many people at once.

Unfortunately, in my experience, too many parents are not like Kym. They either do not know or do not care what their children do.

I signed up for a myspace account so I could learn about the site.

It worries me to think about what could really be going on that these kids don't know about.
It worries me to think about the parents appearing not to care.
It worries me to think about the potential problems if some kid I know get into a "situation".

This is just another internet scare that can be solved with common sense. Dont allow people to contact you if you dont know them, dont post your age or picture if you are under 18, etc.

Very good Kym, you stepped in and looked out for your kids. Great job...however, I have to take issue with one of your comments. "I wrote them an e-mail asking them why they thought it was ok to put pedophiles and kids on the same website"

Granted, I dont search myspace profiles all day, but I'd almost guarantee you'd be lucky to find one that said (s)he was a pedophile. I'm sure if they knew person xyz was a predator, they'd take the appropriate steps.

People who let their children online without supervision should be the focus of the problem. The Internet is not and has never been a safe place for children. Parents should consider it rated R.
True there are places that are relatively safe and kids can have fun if supervised. But there are more sites that are not safe.
Parents should also go over Internet safety and rules all the time. They should stress that you have no idea who is on the other end typing into the computer. That personal information (including their name, address, and school) should not be given out and never agree to meet anyone.

Newsflash: The internet wasn't invented for children. Why, in these modern days, can parents no longer parent?!

I've been on myspace for years. It's hardly some seedy den of sex, drugs, and pedophiles. If you don't want your kids going there, use some common friggin sense......don't let them go there.

Or we could just ban myspace, because everybody knows nobody did anything bad untill myspace came around. And video games. And movies. And TV. And Dungeons and Dragons. And Rock n' Roll. And knee-high skirts.......

Seriously whats the matter with you?
So i'm a pedophile, just because i'm a adult and use myspace? Get with the times and get your facts right before ranting... I just suggest you actually do your job as a parent and look after your kids and give them some common sense!

Here we go again !

Probably like most of us out there, I am tired of people blaming a website, a restuarant, a store etc....for our mishaps in life. Why does everybody have to find a scapegoat on everything ? Why should I point the finger at myself when I can point it in the opposite direction ???
Kids surf the internet, and yes there are many sites that kids don't belong going to, but as a parent, isnt it our RESPONSIBILITY to monitor these things ( go into the HISTORY and you can see where exactly your child has been each and every day.)

Kym....I am not picking on you when I say this, but how hard do you think it is for a child to input the wrong information so that they can enter a site ? Its not like they tried to buy alcohol at a store where they would have to show identification.

Use a little common sense if one has children that use the computer, and dont act all surprised when something like this happens.

Kym, you went overboard.

A better tactic would have been to let them stay on MySpace, and watch them -- and tell them you'll be watching them.

Children need to learn how to socialize in different contexts, (face-to-face, in school, with adults, with peers, online...) and they learn through experience. Taking away MySpace robs them of a chance to learn.

Teach your kids how to read and judge comments from other people, and how to act and react in different situation. To cut them off completely, you're going to end up with young adults that will be easily snookered by infomercials, con-men, and "boyfriends".

Just my two cents (as a social scientist and a father of a one-year-old).

Damn Straight! Can't let business be responsible for raising children. Thats what parents are for. You don't watch your kids, someone else will. Wasn't this same issue already dealt with in regards to television? The whole, should tv be more censored, or should parents turn their kids away from TV? Why blame everyone else for what your children do? Their YOUR children. And Kym, you admitted your kids went online under false info. Maybe you should ask them why, instead of asking Myspace that question.

The same question has always come up when the mainstream is confronted with marginal morals. "But mom, everybody is doing it!"

The internet wasn't invented for kids or half of the stuff that is now on it. It is not R rated, you might say it was X rated, but the reality is that we have decided by muddling the issue that there won't be any rating at all. Those who don't want ratings say the V Chip doesn't work. This seems to put parents and teachers in the position of monitoring their kids internet use 24/7 for bad stuff.

Your kids if they are brought up right will probably survive it all. Just as most will survive all the other purveyors of bad things. A few will not, and even a few that are basically good people and know better.

Business will always just say it's trying to make a living and they cannot police everyone. The police will say no one respects the law. Teachers will say there are too many bad parents. The parents will blame the schools.

That's progress for ya.

In response to redhand.

That KYM went overboard???? Are you out of your mind? KYM did the correct thing, period. KYM recognized a danger, took responsibility and resolved the issue, and made sure the danger will not be present again. Now I say to you, not picking on you, but I will be praying that your one year old's father forget about the nonsense that he learned at social science school, and dedicates himself to true parenting school. God be with you and your family.

I agree that you (Kym) should be asking your daughters why they gave false information and who put them up to it.

Kids today can do anything they want to and get by with it because parents don't give a crap about what they do and plus they can also go to these No proxy sites and get on Myspace and clear their history so their parents won't find out. How do I know this? Because I am a child myself and I have done the same thing accept I don't use Myspace I use Xanga.

Unbelievable. Parent your kids already instead of blaming your problems on someone/something else. The internet is not a free/cheap babysitter. So do your job as a parent.

As N noted, I KINDA feel some sympathy for parents. I'm 21, but that put me as an adolescent during the terrible reign of AOL. I was able to cover my tracks, and I have no doubt kids today are probably even better at it.

The problem, in part, is that the kids know SSSOOO much more about computers than their parents do. They can't watch them 24/7, and when they don't, our little 133t haxors get to work.

Still, it's the parents responsibility to know.

If those 2 children were my daughters, i wouldve just twisted their ears and ground them for a month. Where I come from, children are diciplined. when i first went online in '93 i didnt think of xxx, viruses, pedophiles etc. no bad thing. i would go find information online and finish my school report or whatever.
On one side KYM did the good thing, but that wont resolve the problem. Now those kids will go to their friends and edit their space. If I was KYM i wouldve explained to them (kids) what the risks are in a very adult way so they know whatever they didnt understand -is very dangerous.
The worst that can happen now is, ur daughters to edit the page at school or in the library or at a friend.. put down ur home adres, pictures phone number, just to get back at you kym, for blocking the page.

Kym,
I am 18 and wanted myspace but my mom said no, for an unknown reason. Then all this stuff about it came out and she told me never to go on it and talk to people or anything like that. But before she said that i already decided that i didn't want one anymore. Everyone had it and i heard about peoples nasty pictures. So i'm glad that you caught your kids and took them off before something happened. :)

I am 13. Yeah I have a myspace accont. I love being on myspace because I can talk to my friends and my page is all true. Maybe the age is wrong... but in the "About Me" section. It says I am 13, and the hobbies I like to do. Yeah there is people on their that lie about their age. But on my page, everyone is real and I know all of them personally. Some people are making myspace a big deal like my mom. She made me delete it. She went all up in my bussiness and read everything. Yeah she had a right to protect me. But as she saw... I was only talking to my friends. But after the news started making a BIG DEAL over it all. My mom got mad at me for doing nothing. One of my CHRISTIAN friends invited me on there. It is a place where I can listen to music... post what I think... and not have to be critised of what I think and like. All of my friends can make me up on this comment!! I have been on myspace before alot of others knew about it. Before all these sickos got on it!!!!!!! I Love myspace... and I am staying with it!!!!!!

Also all my friends on their I know personly... and they can back me up on this comment.

Xanga is just the same... but NO you don't hear anything bad about it. So stay the F**K out of Myspace's bussiness!

I AGREE WITH SOCCER BABY 13!!! ya go ahead and watch your kids thats exactly what you as a parents are going to do and are SUPPOSED to do but....lay off a bit your kids have to learn for themselves! i am 15 years old even though my myspace page says that im am 19 or 20 in my about me i say my real age. The plus side of myspace is that YOU CAN GET YOUR ACCOUT PRIVET!!! that means that you are not allowed to see someones profile unless you ask to be their friend and you KNOW them!!! get your head into it and check out myspace and teach your kids the rules but don't restrict them completely!!! they need to LEARN FOR THEMSELVES! the news oversized myspace in bad ways don't ;isten to everything you here because its not all true! all i use mine for is talking to my buddies (people i know very closely)! so get over your self and let your kids make their own mistakes!!!

Well with kids today they want to be seductive on myspace, especially the girls. It becomes addictive, and kids cannot stop from going on the site and meeting potential boyfriends, girlfriends, or just friends in general. Something needs to be done to control what is happening ith that site.

all of you are overeact the situation and blaim it on myspace.com, look after your own kids and let them live life.

Our school blocks access to Myspace. We have a firewall. Talk to your tech department and have them block the site.
My Space should be for 18 and over and if you cannot make sure that children are not accessing it then it should come down. We are intelligent people. Somebody create a way to keep the children out!

Myspace.com what is it? It is a great place wher you can connect with your friends share your thoughts, ideas and interests. A place where peple connect with their friends and make new ones. Yes there is porn on there and yes there are sexual predators on there and yes myspace does work to prevent it and monitor their site but before you bash them think of this, myspace has a very small number of employees and myspace grows roughly 250,000 a day what they need to do is create a search bot to read through the page code and if they find something not following their rules the site is automatically deleted. That would help but still wouldnt solve the problem due to the sheer volume of people on myspace. The key to solving this so called problem isnt banning the site or access to it, Teach your children or friends or whoever is on there "COMMON SENSE" its as simple as that. Preach it to death if you have to.

Theres really only three things you need to know to keep yourself and others safe on a site like myspace
1. Don't post offensive material on there) pix, text.
2. Don't post personal info and places you hangout at.
3. If, IF you meet someone and you are going to meet them bring friends ALWAYS and, AND meet them in a public place with lots of people.

Like someone else said "Its not the roads fault for car crashes" its the stupid people so teach them how to drive better. And stop blaming the damn road.

I am a 14-year-old girl. I?ve had a Myspace account for about six months, and because I?ve carefully not said any personal information (name, location, gender) in public domain, I?ve not yet been murdered, raped, or victimized. However, I?ve found the website to be a huge waste of time, and today I decided to delete my account.
The whole concept of parents "watching" their teenagers? usage of websites strikes me as somewhat unrealistic. My mom occasionally peers over my shoulder, asks, "So who is that?" and I show her how the site works: the blog, mail, profiles, etc. But were I corresponding with one of those infamous pedophiles, she would have no idea. I've grown up using the internet, like the majority of my peers. Many of our parents just aren't internet savvy. (Note, I am not saying that ALL parents are computer illiterate!)
The tactic of simply checking the history fails - most teenagers know how to click "Clear history" and sweep their paths clean. Not so difficult.

I think it's wrong to blame the internet and Myspace-like websites completely for the arising problems. There were pedophiles and rapists long before the birth of Myspace in January 2004. However, many of the victims of the much-publicized Myspace-related crimes probably would not have been exposed to the perpetrators, and the horrible incidents could?ve been avoided. I consider anyone who tells online strangers personal information either extremely innocent or stupid. Without such a hugely extensive network and exposure to predators, such stupidity or na?vet? doesn?t usually have such serious consequences.
I have seen occasional pornographic photos on Myspace. Accidentally ? one was on a friend?s profile in the Top 8 Friends part. However, I think the biggest problem for me has been the waste of time; logging on quickly became a habit. Also, I have found online friendships devoid of much meaning, and unsatisfying. When I call a friend and she says, "Oh, read my blog, I don't feel like repeating it all," it makes me wonder if relationships of the future will have much depth. Reading someone's blog doesn't make me feel close to her/him.

I respect parents stopping their children from having Myspaces, Livejournals, and similar websites. While as Justin said, above, it?s ?not the road?s fault,? there are thousands of scary people camouflaged as they walk down this road ? and just as you might cross the street to avoid them in real life, it makes sense to avoid them online, especially because you can?t even see them. Elbell_12?s idea of letting people l "learn for themselves" is fine, but only up to a point? no sane person would promote associating with a sex offender to learn how to avoid assault or rape in the future. Still, six months ago I didn?t have opinions about Myspace and other similar websites. So maybe for some people the freedom to try it out and decide against it for themselves, as I have, will work.
It seems this is too long for one post. Thanks for reading.

This is all crazy. You should be able to have a myspace or xanga, or whatever if you want one. I mean I'm 16 and I've had mine for probably over a year. ALL my friends have one. As long as you don't give away personal information there isn't anything to worry about. All you have to do is make you page private by saying you're 14 & only accept people as your friend if you know them. They make a big deal because of Myspace but there are other ways such as chatrooms, etc. that can be just as or more dangerous for kids. I think I've learned a little about "right & wrong" over the years & my parents trust me. I mean I've learned more about creating websites & working with computers from myspace than any class I've taken.

I'm 15 years old and I have had a myspace for a little over a year. My friends and I are not ignorant enough to put personal information or give out personal information. Most kids really aren't. You are only hearing ONE SIDE of the story. I haven't seen any interviews with teenagers that actaully like myspace and aren't ignorant enough to put personal info on their site. I recomend you look at both sides before you judge.

K. This is so stupid. Everyone makes such a big deal out of nothing. If you don't want anyone and everyone to be able to see your kids website all you have to do is have them set there profile to private. How you do that is set the age to 14 years old. I'm 16 and my age on there is 14 because I don't want just anyone seeing me on there. Only the people you add as friends can. It depends if you raised your kid to be a naive idiot or not. If they add random older people you don't know on there then yeah, myspace could become a problem. Dude, just teach your kid not to be stupid and invite problems into there lives.If they were smart they would WANT to make that there age because then PARENTS, SCHOOLS, AND WEIRDOS can't see what your doing. HELLO!!!!

I've heard both sides of the story and lets look at the facts.

1) We live in a free society, and by taking down Myspace, and sites like it we violate the rights of every single american.

2) Myspace is what you make of it, and if used properly, it can be a great thing. Friends can reunite, chat, and enjoy. Granted there are many profiles on those sites that are very questionable, but if thats what you are looking for, thats what you are going to find.

3) Myspace is growing at a rate of 150,000 users per day. Policing that number of people is next to impossible. It is up to the parents of the youth to educate their kids as to what is appropriate and what is not. Myspace is not a service or a product, but in fact an OPEN FORUM in the public domain. Myspace does what it can to police what is reported, and can only take action when something is reported.

4) Children under the age of 14 have no business on any internet site with out supervision, and in the many cases that they have profiles, they have falsified the information intentionally- granting them access to what ever content is available.

5) With over 60,000,000 (60 Million) users, there is going to be bad mixed with good, but lets take a look at things from a different perspective- walk outside and leave your kids playing in the front yard along a major road with a lot of traffic, by doing so you leave them at risk with out supervision correct.

Case in Point:

Myspace is not going anywhere, so embrace it, learn about it, and help those around you to understand what is right and wrong. Supervise the use of the internet, just as you would if your kids were in the front yard playing with friends. Make a profile of your own, know what the technology is, and how it can be used. Then those who are blindly throwing accusations can establish a solid bearing on what is really happening, its called evolution.

i use to have a myspace. It was fun and all but then my dad made me delete it. i told him i could just put it on private but he said there are hackers who can get onto your profile. I really didnt want to delete it until i found out there were really sick people out there who can find out where you live and come into your home and rape you. if you have a myspace you shouldnt put pictures of you on there. strange wierdos can look at you and stock you. i'm glad that i got rid of my myspace because one of my friends got really hurt through it and one even stocked by a strange myspacer that wasnt even her friend. this person has been looking at pics of her and somehow emaileing her strange emails. her profile was even set to private.

myspace is blocked at the school i attend. But Xanga isn't? well... not yet anyway. I've had myspace for about a year and a half now and i use it very frequently to keep in touch with friends that personally know and people from other states that are simply enjoyable to talk with. I've never had any kind of circumstance arise that put me in any kind of danger involving myspace. The admin at this school is simply listening to the new media target. seriously... xanga is just as "bad" as myspace but nobody seems to look upon it as a threat.
I'm an 18 year old, A-B student, straight edge, devoted christian and I have over 1000 friends on myspace.

dear ignorance.

MySpace is blocked at the school I attend. But Xanga isn't? well... not yet anyway. I've had myspace for a few years now and I use it very frequently to keep in touch with friends that i personally know and people from other states that are simply enjoyable to talk with. I've never had any kind of circumstances arise that put me in any kind of danger involving myspace. My pictures and name are proudly displayed along with the town I live in. My band uses it to promote our shows and to find venues looking for bands.

The admin at this school is simply listening to the media about their shiny new target. seriously... xanga is just as "bad" as myspace but nobody seems to look upon it as a threat.

I'm an 18 year old, A-B student, straight edge, devoted christian and hey guess what... I have over 1000 friends on myspace

I am 14 and i have a myspace and i think it is your choice to put your age and your pictures on the website so it is the risk that you will have to take. I havent been raped, sexually abused, or any of the above since i have had a myspace profile.

Myspace is just like any meeting room, except its free. You can simply enter a school or zipcode and find people around you, some you may even know. I believe this site is a too easy for predators to capture their targets...like children. Other than that, I think the site is just a bunch of cliqs and gossip.

Its almost like people like you, keep your kids on leashes, I'll tell you what. You should do what every lazy American does, and sue. Its almost like people find reasons to sue.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

"TEEZ NUTS"

anyways, myspace is myspace is myspace.
there wqill always be bad ppl in the world, so we all need to get over it.

Sooner or later myspace will hopefully be curtailed due to new government regulation. If you post anything on this disgusting site, I hope you get what you deserve. Look who the parent company of myspace is... also the owner of FOX NEWS. Interesting, isn't it? The conservatives want to 'protect our kids,' but... DO THEY REALLY? Makes you think! ;)

It's kind of funny. So far most of the kids who have posted on this sound really ignorent which makes the parents/adults look like they know what they are talking about. I've only seen one comment mabe by a kid that actually has a convincing argument. I'm fifteen. I have a myspace. I think alot of people are being extreamly bias about all of this. Both parents and kids. I know thier are dangers, but i think I am smart enough to avoid them. I screwed up on the internet once before, and I have yet to get all my trust back. It's true, the internet was not ment for kids. Somtimes I consider deleting my myspace, but the truth is, I am a little addicted, which makes me wonder if My Space chould be a bad thing. So as kids, who are we do say there is no danger!? Thats just stupid. What is even more stupid however, is people like Boston who THINK they know what they are talking about. She also contadicts herslef. She is oviously a democrat, yet she wants the gov to regulate my space? What BS is this? My Space isn't going to go away anytime soon, but people need to be a little smarter as well.

Parents need to accept the responsibility for their children's actions. If you don't want your kids looking at material you deem inapropriate, simply put parental controls on your internet. You can hardly blame the site for not regulating their site traffic. If a teen or kid really wants to get onto myspace, they'll do so and they can make it so their tracks are hidden. On myspace you can make your profile private, you arent required to give out personal info to the public, you dont have to accept messages and friends that you dont recognize. Basically, stupidity and ignorance, on both the parents and the children, is what is leading to problems on myspace. I'm 16 and don't have any problems with myspace because i use it safely so it isn't all necessarily bad.

i think the kids that know what there are doing so be going on the computer but if you don't want your kid to go on something then just sit there with them or tell them what there can or can not go on and but them one there can go on by the computer. I think everyone just don't think myspace i don't care were every you go in the world now you are going to run in to a lot of not so go people. If you don't want your kid to go on a compute. I don't like computer to bed you just need to know what you can and can not go on.

I'm so sick of this crap! Why complain and end up roining myspace.com for everyone. It ain't like every single person on this is bad, just a few demented people. Stop complaining. If you don't like myspace then don't let your kids on it....or better yet if you don't like it don't talk about it at all just to get your way!

I'm so sick of this crap! Why complain and end up roining myspace.com for everyone. It ain't like every single person on this is bad, just a few demented people. Stop complaining. If you don't like myspace then don't let your kids on it....or better yet if you don't like it don't talk about it at all just to get your way! And shut up about what you think it is!

Oh my gosh. I'm 13 and I think that this is just unbelievable. People, if you think your kids are on myspace.com messing around...then why don't you just look at the history. If there's nothing there than download this thing that WON'T be able to delete. I should know. I've been there, done that. And the thing is i know what i've done wrong now. So I don't get on Myspace.com. The site is called Cookies. If you get this.. then you can read everything your kids have been writing on Myspace. So, either download it, or DEAL WITH IT!!!! And Kym, you've done a great job...but you should put parental block on...(just in case).

As a frequent myspace user, I can tell you myspace is a "safe" internet site. Sure you will get your occasional offender that puts something against the rules of myspace, but how many people are guilty of j-walking? For once there comes out a website to keep people together and lets people communicate and stay contected with their friends. If you want to bash myspace, you will have to do the same for every instant message platform out there, every chat room out there, etc. and for those of you that have told your kids they are not allowed on myspace, are you going to follow them around to all their friends houses to make sure that they don't go on it, are you going to go to their schools library (if they haven't blacked it yet) how about the public library. Are you going to stay awake all night and make sure they dont go on and erase the evidence? You have to realize that you are in the technology generation. These kids will out do everyone that thinks they know a computer today. I began to grow up with it, internet started when I was in middle school, and developed and blossomed and weather you like it or not, you kids will be online, and when you aren't around they are going to get onto myspace and they will be okay, just like the rest of us. Parents that are overprotective on the computer are only because they are scared there children may know more then them. Next thing we are going to hear is parents saying that it is bad for the computer, wrong again! Please folks loosen the grip on your reality and come into our reality and accept these communicational advances and learn with your kids. If you are still scared go out and by a nanny program and block your kids from the real world. they are going to love you even more when they get older, guaranteed they will begin to not believe what you say when they prove all your lies are lies when they go to college. If you want to love your kids, experiance these things together! And help the rest of us protect everyone else from those people that do break the rules. We'll even give you a myspace hall monitor badge to wear around your house, but don't come on to websites and start bashing something you have no idea about, cause that makes you just as bad as the rule breakers! Thank you for your time.

Unfortunately at the end of the day, what we have to be worried about are sexual predators, and this is just another avenue for them to tap into. We have to trust our children, show them the warning signs, then this can be a safe place for everyone.

Listen up Girlfriends,
Your God damn children need freedom. As far as I am concerned, your children are stuck in the clutches of you prude and uptight parents. Myspace is no different to MSN, AIM, XANGA, Bebo. Why don't you go delete all of them now ay- if you arent satisfied enough TAKE OUT THE WHOLE INTERNET. Or maybe you should get rid of the childs cell phone because Hey! They are quite dumb kids and they probably are talking to strange and mysterious and potentially dangerous sex predators or whatever. Honestly mate, myspace is much safer then a lot of things you dont know your teenager is doing. Oh and its also funner since you get to catch up with old friends, meet new friends of people you know, talk to family, post opinions! You should just damn well trust your kid because if you forbid them to go on myspace, they are obviously going to rebel and go on it. That's what i did anyway and believe me you might think "Oh no my precious petal would never do a thing like that", well listen up buckyroo you have no idea what you are talking about. Quite wasting your time, Quit rambling on and get a life and maybe meet some new people...myspace could help you with that?

i think that u some of u are overeacting to the hole thing. Ok i have a myspace page and i am 13 i even have it up there saying that same thing. and the thing about is that if u have a myspace page it will aoutmailcy set ure proflie to pravite so those preadotrs won't get in if they wanted to see your'e page u would have to look at them check there profile then go look at them i think that myspace isant so bad and i also think that you guys should not take off myspace off its dumb to do that try to look on youre childs history everyday she what they are doing they have things that u can do stuff like that i just think that it is unfair for kids who don't do that stuff have to get punshied for its not right

ok well i have read almost all of the posts because i am doing a report on the securtiy of myspace. the truth is that it is not as safe as you guys think. i used to have a myspace but i decided to take it down when i kept getting friend requests from people i didnt know. Generally when yjou get a friend request you just say accept cuz you are excited or in a big hurry to get back to your messages. i am 16 and like being in contact with my freinds. but that is what the phone or email or aim is for. if people know you so well they do not need to see a pic of you to know who you are. I think that the people who say kids need more freedom are 100% wrong... like i said i am 16 and think that i have way to much freedom. kids dont know what is out there and it is the parents job and duity to protect us from these sick predators who will not hesitate to kill and rape us. we all know it is unsafe which is why the police feel they need to patrol it, and thank god they do! I think it is sad that some people have no life that they need to be on myspace and cry and complain if they cant... it is actually rather funny! I think that some people want everyone else to be on myspace just so that they will be fat asses too... go outside and make friends that way... go get some exercise in your lives! stop being fatties!

im a parent 2 my oppinion i im i e mail i myspace.... y cant kids? all you are are hipocrites who need to get youre nose in youre own bisnus

Its not Myspace's fault these girls are getting hurt. Its these little girls who wanna be grown making males thinking they 18 and 20. Of course these males are gonna talk to them if they think think they are leagal.and its their fault they are getting raped and murdred because Myspace does not make u put your address anywhere on your profile. Thats them fast little girls doing that. And they parents are no better because they want to blame myspace for it. It was their kids fault not myspace!

Brilliant. Freaking brilliant. Ian Schwartz.

How is myspace bad!!!!!!!!!!!! IM 25 and i got a myspace and no preadtors has been on my page and they havene't contacted me . So stop being HATERS!!!!!!!

I really can't stand how people are blaming myspace for all these rapings and whatnot, like serioualy, it's the people's fault. Myspace is a way to meet new people. The victims are the ones that are making the bad choices of actually meeting up with people. So you can say all you want and talk bad about myspace all you want, but seriously think about it, it's the kid's fault for the rapings. Not myspace so cut the crap.

u can't blame myspace, the parents, or the kids for the rapings. u blame the rapists. its my personal belief that the punishment for rape should b getting their dick amputated. hell yes its cruel and unusual but wtf do u think rape is? myspace is a place where u can meet new people, talk to friends, keep in touch ect. yes, there r bad people on myspace. but there r bad people everywhere else in the world, too. if u don't want ur kids to give out personal information that makes them potential targets for criminals, then don't let them, duh! teach ur kids common sense!

I agree with andruw to a point though. If you don't mind ur kids having a myspace thats fine, I just beleive that maybe some guidlines and safety things should be said. Maybe even let the parent be there when they make the account. And just get it private if u don't want anyone you don't know to talk to on there. Thats what I think is right.

this is crap already im 16 if you really think about it it is not anyone elses fualt for all these rapeings and what not but the kids on here myspace has a age comfirm if your under 16 your profile is set to private so there for if a older person adds your kid and your kids accept it plzz tell me whos fault that is

I can't stand parents who are getting upset about all of this, when they say they're kids are younger than 14. Myspace's minimum age requirement is 14! If you're kids are younger than that - WHAT ARE YOU DOING LETTING THEM GET ON THE INTERNET ALONE!!! Some parental interaction could stop some of this. But, of course, its the internet's fault, its Tom's fault, its the school's fault - its never the parents' fault.

I too feel that if you are careful at what you say and do you will be okay. I have met a lot of cool people on myspace. I even met the man I fell in love with way back when. My first true love.

damn you people who are against myspace are all fools. if a person ends up being sexually harrassed or stalked by a predator it's their own damn fault for putting themselves out there. i have a myspace, and i know who not to talk to and who to talk to. you just have to use your brain. if you don't have one, then it just sucks to be you.

ok. im a teenager and i have a myspace. i am under 16 so i put that as my age. my profile is on private because i am under 16. i know if someone adds me as a friend and i dont know who they are i probally shouldnt add them. if your profile is on private they have to add you to see it. you have to accept them. so i think all this new about children getting raped by a man they met on myspace is just dumb. that is the childs fault for being irresponsible and adding them or saying that they are older than they really are. and for the parents who blame myspace, i think they are at wrong. if you talk to your kids and actually monator what they are doing on the enternet if they are underage, then there shall be no problems. my parents dont monitor EVERYTHING i do on myspace but my mom has one so she can see what i am up to on my page and i am fine with that. i think if more kids were responsible with themselves and smarter about the choices they are making we wouldnt have this problem with myspace as we do today.

It seems to me that its the parents responsibility to make sure their children are not looking at, reading or getting into potentially bad "situations." My mother thought me right from wrong. I know what i should and shouldn?t be doing. I believe if a parent truly cares they will monitor their children?s behavior online.

Myspace is only dangerous if you allow it to be. If you do not talk to people you don't know and keep your account set to private it is much safer and pedophiles would not be able to view it unless you accepted them as your friend. Get a grip people you can't have total control over your children's lives.

Myspace, youtube and all the other sites were create on the intentions of their creators to be postive not neagtive its those who didnt make it are using it to their advantage which is completly stupid i use myspace, youtube, facebook just for non-social reasons to watch anime like Naruto and Inuyasha cause i dont have the time to see it on tv. its stupid that those who are abusing it are just a bunch of uneduacted people so dont put the blame on someone else who isnt abusing it just like all people we misjudged others easy like all teens are bad um no we arent all bad just being taught the way we think its right if only parents taught us to be careful on myspace then we wouldnt be in such a huge mess alright and besides children make mistakes and they will learn when they get older. we be adults and take the risks of what comes at us.