Risky Behavior

By Henry W.

MySpace is one of the most popular websites in America, and teens are a big part of its success. It is a social networking site used to create profiles where you can show your favorite songs or post your favorite pictures and speak to your friends online. Over 200 million profiles are online right now.

Although teens use this site freely, there are many risks involved. “It is proven that it [MySpace] is dangerous; you hear about these incidents and they all seem to point at MySpace,” stated Ann Kozak, Marketing Specialist and Yearbook Advisor at The Family Foundation School.

Many teens (and their parents) are still not aware of these risks, which include potential and future job loss, job prevention, assault, rape, not being accepted into colleges, high school suspension, and getting in trouble with parents.

But, how is this possible?

MySpace has restrictions that require users to be a certain age. Depending on what age the user is, a profile is either set to private or public, as a safety issue. If a user is from age 13 to 17, the profile will be set to private, meaning that only other users whom they have added as a friend may view it. If the user’s age is 18 or older, their profile is set to public and is quite the opposite, everyone can view it.

These restrictions would appear to safeguard younger users, but a study from Newsweek.com showed that users from 18-20 were not actually that age, they were clearly younger.  Many teens evade the safety features of the websites and put themselves at risk, the second they create a profile. A public profile allows people to view their information, which includes what city and state they live in, and where they go to school. “You can find any information you want,” said Kozak. Pictures are also included   in the profile so, murderers and sex offenders have as easy an opportunity as close friends, to find them. If they want to find someone, it is relatively easy to do so.

The profiles that teens post online reveal a great deal of personal information that could affect applications to jobs or colleges due to the content of the profiles. This content often includes both drugging and drinking. If a college or employer sees this, the chances of the application being accepted may be significantly reduced.

MySpace puts a message out to users that the site is confidential. John A., a student at The Family Foundation School, had an experience that left him to say otherwise. At his previous boarding school, John was home for summer vacation when he encountered the negative effects of the site.

He was slandering and spreading rumors about his school a week into summer break. When he returned around three months later he had an unexpected office meeting with his principal lasting two hours. She had said to John that he didn’t have to return to the school, and he ended up leaving.

John explained that the point was, “She was able to look at everything on my MySpace;” and this was months later that she found what he was doing.

“It showed me how unconfidential it [MySpace] really is. It can affect opportunities, school, and jobs and can have an long-lasting effect,” said John.

The website was not created for this intent. The pages were made for users to go online, talk to their friends, meet new people, and reunite with old childhood acquaintances. But, the website’s intent has been skewed and people have found new uses for the websites.

MySpace does offer many safety features that do work. If there is a photo that shows some sort of malicious content, hyperlinks is available that allow users to contact MySpace administration.

Recently, in the month of January, MySpace was behind the arrest of three men in the town of Fallsburg, N.Y. These three men posted photos of themselves assaulting a young woman. This link was used by a user and MySpace officials had alerted the police immediately.

This shows that the safety features do work, but they often don’t.

These safety features do allow the website to keep running, but they will not protect everyone. Only users that believe that there are negative aspects to the site will take precautions.

“People should use Facebook because it is less publicly viewed and is more affiliated with the school,” stated John.

Facebook, may be a much safer environment for younger users as well as adults.