It's terrific that MySpace has committed to making the social networking site safer for teens in an agreement with 49 states' attorneys general. But a few of the "new" promises seem unrealistic at best.
Creating software for parents to block kids from joining social networks may be okay for 'tweens, but once kids hit teen years, social networking is so much a part of the way they interact with friends when school is out, that forbidding them to join is foolish, shortsighted, and simply a bad parenting move. Tech-savvy kids will find a way around a total ban at friends' houses, the library, anywhere a computer is available.
As for the proposed goal of deleting all registered sex offenders from MySpace, it's tough to do since you can use any name and age to create a MySpace account. Creating a database of email addresses supplied by parents who don't want their kids to create accounts is pointless, too, since kids are pretty adept at creating several web-based email addresses. And age verification for kids is not an easy system to put in place.
The good news is there already are some effective privacy precautions and safety tips at teens' fingertips. They just have to use them. And parents need to find them and read them. Good judgment will always be the best defense against online predators and bullying tactics. Parents need to talk to their kids about how be smart and safe online, not forbid them from going there.
Here's a look at the safety measures already available on the two most popular social networking sites for teens, MySpace and Facebook.
MySpace: You have to look for it, but scroll to the bottom of the MySpace home page and you'll see "safety tips." There, you'll find lots of info for parents and teens about how to social network safely on MySpace. Click the "safety settings" tab and you'll find step-by-step instructions for ...
• setting profiles to private so only friends and people teens choose to see their profiles are allowed to see them.
• pre-approving comments before they appear on your Myspace page. The default setting is for comments to automatically post.
• blocking a user from contacting you via your MySpace page. MySpace also advises teens to tell an adult if this happens and to click on the "Contact MySpace" to report unwanted messages.
• turn off the "online now" message status that shows everyone when you are on MySpace.
Facebook: Facebook provides so many options for privacy settings, you have to work at it. But that's not a bad thing; teens just need to believe privacy is worth spending time on. This is a good thing for parents and kids to do together. The word "privacy" is at the top right-hand corner of the Facebook home page. Click on it, and you'll be able to adjust your privacy settings as you like them.
The first thing parents and teens should know is that Facebook made a change this year that makes it possible for the profiles of Facebook members' 18 and up to appear in major search engines. Members over age 18 can opt to create a public search listing by checking a box on the privacy settings page.
Members of all ages have the ability to control the privacy settings on several features, including who can view profiles, photos, news feeds and mini feeds.
There are also separate privacy settings for photos and notes. And members can block individuals from searching for them, seeing their profiles, or contacting them on Facebook. You can also specify which people in your network can only view your limited profile.
So while we wait for more developments to arise from the MySpace/attorneys general pact, make use of the tools already in place to keep teens safe on these popular social networks.
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