how concerned should i be for my 13 yr old daughter on my space.com?

Answer 1

i don't think you should be too concerned it just all depends on how much you trust your daughter.

Answer 2

My kids do not use myspace. Not only are there some weirdos surfing it, but i dislike the whole popularity contest atmosphere. There are enough social stresses on young teens in school and real life , I do not feel they need to compete or leave themselves exposed on a site like myspace. Just my personal opinion.
Rather than try to keep on top of their myspace information and contacts we have just banned it's use.

That said, I think if you can trust your child to follow the basic internet ground rules and you have the time and ability to always monitor the site. It might be ok. Following these rules pretty much eliminate the whole point of myspace however. Even if you child obeys these guidelines, there is no control over what their friends have posted info that they have given away on their sites.
Sorry it hardly seems worth the hassle to me.

Online Safety Rules
I will not give out any personal information online without my parents' permission. This includes my name, phone number, address, e-mail, location of my school, my parents' work address/ telephone numbers and credit card numbers, and my picture. This goes for anywhere on the Internet, including e-mail, chat rooms, newsgroups - even Web sites that promise me free stuff or prizes, or on Web pages that I make myself.

When using the Internet, I will always use a pretend name or nickname that doesn't reveal whether I'm a boy or a girl.

When creating a password, I will make one up that is hard to guess but easy for me to remember. To avoid having it stolen, I will never reveal it to anyone (except my parents) - not even my best friend.
I will not respond to any message that makes me uncomfortable. I will show an adult right away.
I will arrange to meet a friend I have made on the Internet ONLY if one of my parents has been informed and will be present.
I will not send an insulting or rude message to anyone online. This is called "flaming" and it is not good Netiquette.
I will not disable any filtering software my parents have put on the computer.
I will not open e-mail, files, links, pictures or games from people that I don't know or trust. I will always ask an adult first.
I will not take words, pictures or sounds from someone else's Web site without their permission.
I will not believe everything I read on the Internet. I will always check the source of the information and confirm it with my teacher, parent or librarian.

Beyond that some schools ( and employers)feel they have the right to hold kids accountable for things posted on sites like myspace.

Answer 3

You will be told by your daughter that everyone is going there so it is fine. My experience with teens as a teacher, parent and grandparent has shown me that they know better than to do a lot of stuff that they do on the net but they do it anyway because they are unable to control themselves. This is because they have not developed self control like some adults. Note how I say some adults. Anyway, if you want to trust her then monitor her and limit her time there. If you notice that she has started going by some weird net Alis that rings concern than be concerned and stop it right then and there. Or if you walk into the room and surprise her and she tries to lower the monitor or she acts secretive then move in to see what is going on. Teens behavior is very predictable. I need not tell you how the FBI monitors this site (and many many others) for weirdos. Why am I not telling to not let her go there? That is because every web site has the potential for weirdos so keep your guard up mom and try to trust her.

Answer 4

very very concerned and im a 16 year old girl saying this don't you see its always on the news. well I hear if you're under a certain age theres a privacy policy for the pages but its much safer to just not have her on. I had a 19 year old boy tell me an old man try to hit on him by offering blow jobs. Not saying you're daughter is not responsible but may not have the mind set to watch what she says or know when something is not normal. She may give a little to much information, these days your number is to much information.

Answer 5

I would be concerned. Myspace does lock the profile of anyone under a certain age (14 I think). That means that only people on their friends list can view their profile. What I would do is sit her down and talk to her about your concerns. Create your own space on myspace and have her add you to her friends list. That way you can keep an eye on her. If she doesn't like the rules, there is an option on myspace for parents to shut down their children's web page...

Answer 6

Honestly, how smart is your daughter?

It's almost a "street smart" necessity. It's not a bad thing if she knows how she should be treated. If she's unsure, then you have a problem.

I'd suggest asking if you could sit with her for one session. Click some links, go through some pages... EVEN THE ONES THAT ARE PROVOCATIVE AND RACY. You have to be able and willing to answer her questions as an unjudgemental person. She's going to see all the junk that you don't want her to. She'll only be tempted by it if you make it clear that she should NOT see it.

Answer 7

My space is perfectly safe if used correctly. All the security precautions should be turned on (such as only allowing approved friends to view her profile, and your daughter informed that she should only use myspace for communicating with her friends not strangers. Open your own my space account and become your daughters friend, that way you can also keep an eye on her profile and blogs. The key to myspace safety as with any use of the Internet is proper parental supervision and instruction.

Answer 8

She is too young to be on myspace. Yes, I would be worried. I would tell her to cancel the account and let her get back on when she is 16. There is really no reason for her to be on there, if she want to contact her friends sh can email them without making herself susceptible to cyber stalkers. Anyway, she would have to lie about her age in the first place to even get an account. (because even the creators of myspace believe 13 is to young to be on their site.) and its 1 thing to let her have freedom and the chance to make the right choices, but if 13 yr olds where always responsible they wouldn't need parents to set rules and guidelines.

Answer 9

VERY!!!!!!! ive been hearing so many stories already its terrible. i seen a episode of dr phil last week and a mother of two teenage boys made up a screen name to try to trick them to see how far they would go with a young girl and how much personal info they would give out plus my frind just found out that her 13 yr old was on there saying she is 19 so yes i would be concerned i no its decietful to trick your daughter by posing as a male older whatever you think suitable and see just how she will react to it hopefully she has listen to the info you have given her and the rules you have implemented. good luck to you lanay

Answer 10

simple rules.
keep time to a minimum.
require her to give you her password
keep contact choices ie..email, messaging, texting, and posting of comments under scrutiny
don't give away ANY locations no matter what
keep pics clean
have a good virus program running
and don't get too annoyed with people, its the internet, there is Anonymity and detachment from reality working together, so people don't feel accountable to thier actions, and comments. With all this, you should be safe.
and if your extremely paranoid
get a keystroke program so you know if she creates any other accounts that you don't know about

Answer 11

You need to watch the news, young girls are talking to older men all the time and some are even running away them. I would not only be concerned with MySpace, but with all her activities on the internet. You were young once what did you do?