Myspace - Good or Evil? - Comments

I recently read an article (legitimate) about teen suicides that were related to My Space. The only suspicious activity in the life of this otherwise great kid was her very active participation in My Space. There was concern that something was going on there that moved her to do it, especially since another teen she was friends with on the site completed suicide. Too iffy for me; I made my kids delete their info and stop using it.

The thought of a simplified networking system, a social net so to speak, is cool enough. But, MySpace is littered with poor taste. It starts with the half-naked woman advertising the sexual hook-up service (corporate sponsor), and wraps up with the profane personal pics and pages posted by its users.

Friends of mine use MySpace almost exclusively for marketing music, live shows, etc. in the entertainment biz. I can see value in the network. I could do without the hookup mantra, and don't want to participate. I'd bet there's millions who think just like me. Since you don't seem to have any semipornographic ads on your MySpace ... space, do you have a shortcut method for keeping such things off your personal area?

EDITOR'S NOTE: I don't do anything to control the ads that are displayed on my profile views. I'd guess that it's either random, or possibly tied to your demographics.

Myspace has been a great place to meet and stay in touch with friends. I have found some fascinating people there. I try and keep a close eye on making sure the site is family friendly and safe, choosing my friends carefully, reviewing comments posted to make sure they are safe as well.

It's just vastly incredible and mindblowing as to the horizons that are opened up when you connect to the world on this level. You are able to forge new relationships and create your identity that speaks of who you are. By the way...check out my profile...tell me what you think?! www.myspace.com/Ensky

Bob - on the subject of matchmaking networking, you might want to check out http://okcupid.com -- It's free, without ads, and has some very interesting matching technology. It allows users to create tests so can be quite entertaining (if you focus on the more popular and appropriate ones.)

That said, some of your warnings are still valid - it's all public and your info & test results are displayed on your profile. They've recently added journals too. Sounds like it has almost 2 million subscribers, US, Canada, Brits and Aussies.

I'm grateful there's a site like MySpace. It's very easy for people to forget that just because they sit alone in their homes writing blogs and profiles that that information is not accessible to millions around the world. It's hard to believe some of the things people will say or share - but that's free speech even if I don't agree with something being stated. I think this is partly due to the anonymity factor - someone can post a profile and a picture, but who's to know if that's really the person behind the words?

I use MySpace for my band - it's a great way to put us out there and we've been able to network with other musicians and have made some new fans world-wide. It's fantastic and I'm glad to have it as a resource.

The negative aspects that hover over MySpace are really no different than in any chat place or place people can create a profile or persona. It's a risk I'm willing to take, but I'm an adult and am definitely careful about what I put out there. I may be alone when I write what I share, but I never know who could one day wind up reading it.

My 16 yr old son spends a large percentage of his day messaging in Myspace and it seems to be getting in the way with his school work. The children, for the most part, whom he is writing to only live a few hundred yards from us. In our day, we would just go outside and see them. I often hear his computer clicking away in the wee hours of the morning and I have to tell him to go to bed. He made 'friends' with a foul mouthed girl from Jersey and he had to delete her from his network. Nuts if you ask me.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A convincing argument for keeping the computer in a very public place in your house! Also don't hesitate to make the computer an EARNED privilege!

I agree that there is a potential on MySpace to give out "too much" information. I was looking at the events section, which normally lists public events at bars and such, and found a young girl's birthday party listed. It had a picture of her and two of her friends in bikinis, listed the girl's full name, as well as the address of her house. Not only could anyone "crash" this party, a pediophile might fixate on this young lady with (literally) a map to her house. I printed the page, and mailed it to the address listed, in order to warn the parents. It's a good idea for parents to pay close attention to what thier kids do online, and warn them about giving out personal information.
That being said, I have been very happy with how MySpace has helped me and my existing friends coordinate our social time, as well as meet new friends through my existing friend network. Through MySpace, I have been able to keep in better touch with friends who live far away.
MySpace is just a tool - like a knife, it can be used to make dinner or to hurt someone, depending on the person using it.

Simply put ... PLEASE run a good anti-spyware scan after anyone signs up for Myspace. Personally, the adware and spyware is not worth the 'connectivity' you or your child may enjoy!

EDITOR'S NOTE: I've heard no reports that using or visiting Myspace resulted in spyware problems. Nor does it make sense... they have too much to lose by doing something that malicious and easily detectable. Of course, it's HIGHLY likely that the Myspace target audience (teens and pre-teens) will click on just about anything and end up with a pile of spyware, but that can't be blamed on Myspace.

WHAT? Ad/Spyware on MySpace? Wow it s*cks even more than I thought it did.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Ummm, this is rumor. Find me a verifiable instance of Myspace distributing adware or spyware and I will GLADLY trumpet the news to the world. I seriously doubt that Myspace would be so stupid...

Like anything in life, anything that has good points starts getting watered down and this site now has become a magnet and there are anonymous people acting who commit dangerous acts or play pranks, now with all the attention myspace has attracted and now that the authorities are watching it and it has in fact become a detriment to my sons homework activity time being spent to much on this myspace site along with his girlfriend, i have to warn him, get off the site besides now I hear Rupert Murdoch, Global Media Magnate who is very controversial owning the site and knowing my city's police dept use of systematic corrupt practices, use of false charges, I will in fact have a long talk with my son even if he only uses it to stay in touch with his friends, and cousins.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Whew... that's one LONG sentence! I was winded after reading it...