The trouble with MySpace.com…

The social networking website MySpace.com is very popular with teenagers and singles. The site allows anyone to create their own web page or ‘space’ that can be customized with pictures, music and colorful graphics. People will often publish information about their interests an hobbies. Friends or strangers can post messages and pictures on anybody else’s MySpace page.
 
The problem with MySpace is that for the most part it is uncensored and some users have posted pictures that could be considered pornographic, and comments that are crude or violent. Some have found it as a way to express feelings or opinions that they wouldn’t necessarily say if they weren’t hidden behind a keyboard. I feel that many parents would be shocked by the stuff that some of their teenagers post on their MySpace page.
 
As a parent of a pre-teenager, I recommend to all parents of teenagers who use MySpace that they view their son or daughter’s MySpace profile and talk to them about what is appropriate and what is not. 
 
Alternatively, there is commercial computer monitoring software that can monitor and/or disallow access to programs or websites – or allow access on a timed basis. I have researched and tested a few computer parental control programs and have found my favorite to be a program called Cyber Patrol.
 
If you need help limiting or monitoring your children’s internet usage, ask us if Cyber Patrol would be good software for your computer. If so, we would be happy to install it for you and configure the powerful features to your needs, and train you on how to get the most use from the program.