Take for example MySpace, it now boasts over 164 million registered users, its closest competitor Facebook, only has 11 million members. Seeing the potential of this new tool for communication, in 2005 the News Corp. owned by Rupert Murdoch paid $580 million in cash for MySpace’s ownership!
MySpace now has 2.5 times the traffic of Google, and is visited more than eBay. It is estimated that 180,000 people register every day to become new members! Latest research shows that nearly 1 in 4 members are under the age of 18.
Compared with rivals’, MySpace profiles are more customizable, hence the ‘my’ in MySpace. The profiles are much more accessible, which promotes openness for users, while also creating the potential for an unsafe environment for youth with inappropriate information is being shared.
Most youth don’t understand that by posting their personal information on this site, that it in turn is public information. Anyone and everyone are capable of seeing their profiles with ease. Such sites do have many positive attributes to them, we just can’t forget about the potential dangers.
So what can we do about this problem as parents, educators and community members?
- Check your child’s profile for personal or harmful information.
- Ask the child/student why they created the profile.
- Have an honest and open conversation about the dangers associated with online social networking.
- Continue to educate yourself using available resources and tools.
- AWARENESS
For additional information on Social Networking/MySpace, visit these websites;
WiredKids, the ultimate online safety project for kids, tweens and teens!
www.wiredkids.org
WiredSafety – the world’s largest Internest safety and help group
www.wiredsafety.org
National Institute on Media & the Family
www.mediafamily.org
