He’s a smart kid who makes good choices. We do have a good relationship as far as talking. I’ve seen his MySpace page and he doesn’t know it, and I haven’t seen anything worrisome. I worry about other people (who aren’t his friends) accessing it or finding him in real life. There’s just been so much negative publicity and I want to be a responsible parent.
mama you should be very concerned. my space show porn sometimes. my brother does it and closes the door all the time.
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It’s a good thing that you’re a concerned parent and not one that let’s the computer or tv entertain their child. There are some programs that help parents control the content on a computer, just like there are for the tv, and it is common to normal people that parents have control of their kids entertainment. You shouldn’t feel bad about checking, but I hope you don’t worry yourself to death!
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All I can say is parental control……
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You should worry a lot because child molesters look at myspace for their next victems.
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I would make sure he doesn’t reveal anything personal about himself, especially what school he goes to. I’m totally against the idea of MySpace in and of itself because I think it’s stupid, but he’s an 8th grader and that’s what they do. Just talk to him about what he posts and let him know that you want him to be safe more than anything.
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Hi!
I’m 16, and I’ve spent a lot of time trying to act as a go-between for adults and teens my age on the subject of MySpace and communities like it, so I found your question very interesting.
I’m really glad that you’re being a responsible parent, both in that you’re checking up with your kid, and in that you trust him.
Sites like MySpace have a potential to be either very good or very harmful. It’s probably good to sit down and have a talk with him. Don’t accuse him of anything, and you may not even want to bring up that you found his page – just let him know that you’ve heard about problems with the site and want to make sure he’s safe. Tell him never to give out his home phone number, address, or last name – depending on your comfort level, you might also want to ask him not to give the name of his school or his photograph. Also warn him that MySpaces are public, and that he shouldn’t post anything he wouldn’t want you, his teacher, or his religious leader (if you follow a faith) to see.
However, please don’t be too worried. I know that several years ago (around 9th-10th grade) I made some very good online friends from all over the world. After I talked it over with my parents and we agreed that they were trustworthy, I got mail from them, which is great, since it comes from as far away as Australia. I also met one girl who I’d known online, in a safe way.
I’d also like to add that a teen-staffed magazine I work for, L.A. Youth, recently published some articles about MySpace. I’m including a few links, in case you’re interested.
http://layouth.com/4_37_01.htm
http://layouth.com/4_37_01_01.htm
http://layouth.com/4_37_01_02.htm
I hope this was helpful!
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He’s a smart kid, so if you sit down & talk with him I’m sure you’ll be able to get across the message that rules for staying safe in real life still apply to the internet.
Try not to focus on MySpace alone, make sure he is being safe anywhere on the internet. Remind him that things he posts on the internet are public and anyone can look at them.
Tell him that you know he is responsible enough to stay safe out in public, and that he needs to apply those same rules to staying safe on the internet.
PS – if you ever do find something upsetting that he wrote on his MySpace page, try to find a way of talking about it without giving away that you read it. I know from your perspective it may seem logical since he put it out there for anyone to read, but he probably isn’t going to see it that way.
My cat
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Well, he sounds like a smart kid and probably won’t do anything stupid. Just trust him. But if you really suspect that something’s up, check it out. MySpace does show porn! Set parental controls.
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I’m pretty concerned about that website.
I saw a news feed about 12 year olds posting half-naked photographs and that alone frightens me.
I’d put a password on the internet so that he can’t access the internet without your permission and move the computer into the family room, or something along those lines.
The worry-wart of a mother I am says so
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Myspace does have a safe mode, which allows only people on his friends list to view his profile and what he posts. If you are that concerned compromise with him. Tell him that you would feel more safe if he left it in safe mode. Also ask him who all the people on his friends list are.
The worry-wart of a mother I am says so
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