Generation
Myspace.com - Common Sense
By Alyssa Christianson

Protection is one of the things that our parents have always tried to provide us with. Always telling us that we can't stay out late and not to smoke or drink because they are trying to protect us.

But there is one place where our parents' protection is limited to a frightening degree.

The Internet.

Parents are wary of it and youth thrive on it. I know because I take advantage of the Internet's technology nearly every day. day.

The Internet is a means of communication, education and entertainment and all of these means meet in one very popular place, for better or for w o r s e . M y s p a c e . c o m , which is becoming what seems to be a parent's worst nightmare.

Myspace.com is a Web site where anyone can create a profile that includes their name, location, age and a picture - if the user so chooses to put one up. The idea might already be starting to make parents nauseous. Long story short, it's a place for people to meet online and "chat." I personally use the Web site as a way to keep in contact with my friends, relatives and to find out about new bands.

The image of Myspace has been scarred by recent news stories that report about young girls being harmed by predators on the Web site. To think, a Web site that was created in the mindset of providing "a place for friends" - as Myspace's slogan so simply says - has now become a place of danger for today's youth.

In reality, harmful situations can easily be avoided on Myspace, if the Web site is used properly and with caution. As soon as a profile is created the user has the ability to format their profile to his or her liking. In fact, the user's first and last names are kept private by the Web site unless the user chooses to display them.

The Web site also never displays the user's full address. The profile only shows the user's town (if the user supplies it), state (if supplied) and country of residence. The profile can also show the user's school but again only if the user wishes to display it.

There are also various privacy settings that can be applied to the user's profile. The profile can be set to "friends only," where only people designated by the user can view it, rather than "public" where anyone on Myspace has access to the user's identification information.

When it comes to talking with others on Myspace, the user is completely in control. In order to add a friend on Myspace the user must send a request to another user. This request asks if you would like to add the other user to your friend's list or not.

I take caution in this step, making sure I only add people that I know personally. Danger can easily be avoided by using the same old rule of thumb, "don't talk to strangers."

In the end, Myspace doesn't have to be an unsafe place. Teens can protect themselves in various manners and by just using common sense. If you were walking down the street and randomly met someone, you wouldn't just hand out your address and full name. Myspace should be treated in the same way.

Parents can't ensure their children's safety at all times on the Internet, but steps can be taken to try. Parents can either keep their children away from it completely, they can choose to ignore what their children do online or teach them the right and wrong ways to handle the Internet.

The choice is up to each and every one of us.

No one is invincible on the Internet, but you don't have to have your security compromised either.

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Alyssa Christianson is a member of the Oakmont Regional High School Class of 2008. She resides in Ashburnham with her parents.