Do you think that myspace should have age limits or some kind of conditions to join?

Question

I have a teacher-friend who is totally against myspace because of its lack of parental controls, and the easy access that a predator would has to potential victims. Do you think that it could be improved or do you think that it is fine just the way it is? And what if your child were on myspace would you feel the same way?

Hey Love4Gwen,
that is exactly why they are called children; they need some adult to protect them not prey on them

Answer 1

It isn't Myspace's job to control other people's children OR to monitor predators. This is a free country. If people are concerned about their children, then perhaps they should start raising their kids to make better choices and keep them off of Myspace.

My child does not go on myspace since it is MY job as a parent to keep track of my child. I am not hiring myspace to be my perma-nanny and take care of my responsibilities.

Plus, it would be very difficult to enact a system that will effectively weed out predators and under-age kids.

Answer 2

As others have already said, there is an age limit and it's up to the parents to enforce it. But what happens when a child goes to a friend's house? Who is enforcing things there? Can parents watch their children 24/7 or do they have to put a little trust in their child to know right from wrong and to do the right thing?

I'm well over 40 years old and I have a problem with people trying to blame computers, or the internet, for bad things that happen. When I was growing up, long before computers were around, we used a place called the public library to do our homework, meet friends, etc. We'd also go to places like the corner candy store or malt shop or playground. I know, very old fashioned by today's standards. But my point is, pedophiles and other miscreants knew where the kids would go, and they'd go there too.

Restricting internet access even has a down side. Before I got my own computer, I went to a public library to research breast cancer because my wife had been diagnosed with it. I couldn't find any information because the library filters had decided the word "breast" was linked to pornography.

So, to repeat myself, I want the internet to remain accessible and let's let parents assume responsibility for their children and the children who visit their homes. We have too many restrictions (laws) on the books that are not enforced right now. Do we really need to add more? Laws or restrictions are only followed by the law-abiding, not the criminals. That's why they're criminals in the first place.

I'll get down off my soapbox now.

Answer 3

I think myspace should have more conditions and parental controls then it does now. It is not safe. It says that you have to be over 14 to have a myspace but I know 9 year olds who have one. It could be improved a lot. If children were warned more about the dangers and myspaces were monitered then It would make parents feel safer. At some schools they have myspace checks to see whats going on.

Answer 4

I don't think the blame should fall solely onto MySpace though, but also onto the parents who do not monitor their kids closely enough.

Kids can lie about their age on MySpace, which is why part of the parental controls thing fails most of the time -- kids lie about their age and put that they're older than they really are so that their profiles will be viewable to everyone, not just the people on their friend's list.

Just tell your kids to never, ever meet up with someone from myspace that they don't know in real life first. Tell them that adults can lie and say they are teenagers too and that they'll try to trick them into meeting up. They'll even post fake pictures. Tell them to never meet up with a stranger from myspace, even if they've been "chatting" with them for a long time. If they don't know them from school, then they don't need to meet up in private.

Answer 5

I think that MySpace is a fun, safe place. As long as you only have people you know as your friends...if you go accepting and talking to anybody, then it can get hairy. I think it's fun and I have found a few new bands that I like through MySpace. I like it because it's a neat way to keep up with your friends if they don't live near you anymore. If you are careful, then everything will be ok.

Answer 6

Age limits will do no good my friend. Had a friends son whose computer was screwed up. When I was clearing up the mess I found he had been on web sites he should not have been.
His reply was well all I hav to do is give a false birth date.
I think MY SPACE is a good place for the younger kids,
However, they need to be instructed in better ways about reveling too much personal information.
Also a more aggressive programs needs to happen to keep the
pedophiles out of it.
As for parents monitoring the kids, why do they let them have computers in the bedrooms. I say out in the open where they can be seen.
If the kids are doing nothing wrong , they should have no fear of being seen using their computer

Answer 7

As said, there is an age limit but it is unenforceable and as said the parents need to be active in their childrens' web activities.

As an aside, here's a fun and interesting method of identifying underaged MySpacers and getting them booted:

http://underagemyspacers.ytmnd.com/

Cheers!

Answer 8

Well, i have a myspace but i dont put my own pic on it. but some other kids in my class that use myspace put their own pic on mypace. I think the people on myspace shouldn't let people on myspace that submit a pic that looks any younger than 16 or 17 years old.

Answer 9

ok first of all its the the dumb little kids fault cause they shouldnt been on there and second why are they talking to people they dont know who would do that?...its not myspace's fault taht they run away with some one they dont know whos the one that wanted to go with a stranger the kid not the predator hes not the one making the kid go ..if a little kid is going to talk to soeone they dont know who could be a predator posing as a 12 year old then that kid is dumb cause they shouldnt be talking to strangers on the internet

Answer 10

I feel that myspace should have a minimum age of 21 years old.