Social networking websites that have attracted millions of users are raising concerns that young people are unwittingly providing material for potential abusers. Authorities have become concerned at how children are using sites such as MySpace and YouTube to display personal details and, in some cases, intimate photographs and videos of themselves.

Time magazine describes MySpace, the leading social networking site, as the place where web stars are born, music and film careers are launched and some single people manage to find mates. It is now the most popular website in the US, boasting more than 100 million registered members. In the last year, traffic jumped from 17 million unique visitors per month to 54 million — more than Yahoo gets some weeks.

Teenage users of social networking sites often don't realize the information they post for their friends to see can also be viewed by people with questionable motives. They often fill their web pages with photos, music and videos from their cell phones, and link them to their friends' pages. Now UK authorities have begun an inquiry into the sites after concern from teachers and parents. Recently the head teacher of a UK girls' school wrote to parents raising concerns about students' use of teenage networking site Bebo. The school banned the site at the end of last year but children can still log on at home. Staff said they had become aware of girls posting images which could be considered "pornography in the hands of the wrong person". Social networking sites are also banned in all Irish schools, which have a filtering system which blocks out the sites; again, this will not stop students accessing the networks at home, and uploading potentially defamatory material about fellow students. Recently, a Dublin school suspended a number of students for writing objectionable comments about teachers on Bebo. Another school suspended a student for creating a page which singled out a particular student to be targeted and physically attacked.

Posing for MySpace

55% of all online American youths ages 12-17 use online social networking sites. For girls, social networking sites are primarily places to reinforce pre-existing friendships; for boys, the networks also provide opportunities for flirting and making new friends.

In the UK it is estimated that 61% children aged 13 to 17 have a personal profile on a social networking site and two-thirds of 12 to 19-year-old users hide online activities. A survey by the London School of Economics has shown that as many as one in 12 children have met someone offline who they first encountered on the web. Rob Nickel, author of Staying Safe in a Wired World: A Parent's Guide to Internet Safety, suggests parents sit with their children when they are producing their online profiles so they can discuss what's appropriate to put on there and what's not. He also urges parents to check out their children's friends' profiles. "You might see a picture of your own daughter on a friend's page — with her name on it. The best thing to do is sit down with the kids and let them show you what's going on. They'll love to show off — just ask how to download a music file."

MySpace makes it easy for young people to express themselves, connect with friends and make new ones, but what they post publicly could embarrass them or expose them to danger. Here are some common sense guidelines that should be followed when using MySpace: Don't forget that profiles and forums are public spaces. Don't post anything you wouldn't want the world to know (eg your phone number, address, IM screens name, or specific whereabouts). Avoid posting anything that would make it easy for a stranger to find you, such as where you hang out every day after school. People aren't always who they say they are. Be careful about adding strangers to your friends list. It's fun to connect with new MySpace friends from all over the world, but avoid meeting people in person whom you do not fully know. If you must meet someone, do it in a public place and bring a friend or trusted adult. Harassment, hate speech and inappropriate content should be reported. If you feel someone's behavior is inappropriate, react. Talk with a trusted adult, or report it to MySpace or the authorities. Don't post anything that would embarrass you later. Think twice before posting a photo or info you wouldn't want your parents or boss to see! Don't mislead people into thinking that you're older or younger. If you are under 14 and pretend to be older, customer service will delete your profile. If you are over 18 and pretend to be a teenager to contact underage users, customer service will delete your profile. Don’t get hooked by a phishing scam. Phishing is a method used by fraudsters to try to get your personal information, such as your username and password, by pretending to be a site you trust.

If I have learned anything in all my years dealing with teenagers, it is this: They are smart. Really smart. Smarter than we give them credit for. Because of the information age and access to different forms of media, they display a great capacity to learn, and they are not afraid to dig for the answers they seek. The struggles we faced when we were 18, they are facing when they are 12. Whether we like it or not, their intellectual maturation is light-years beyond where we were at that same age. The problem is that many teens do not have a firm spiritual and moral foundation to help them make wise decisions. They can tell you ten different positions in which to have sex, but they can't tell you why God designed it for marriage. They can tell you that Jesus died on the cross, but they can't tell you why He did so. They can tell you that talking on the cell phone, IMing their buddies, e-mailing their girlfriends, surfing on the Web, and hanging out on MySpace is cool, but they can't tell you why they like it or explain the dangers behind it. Our job is to determine the why. When we figure out why, we can formulate a plan to monitor how they participate in this whole world called MySpace. — Jason Illian, MySpace MyKids

Do you think that the concerns raised about sites such as MySpace and Bebo are valid? What can be done to protect young people who use these sites? Please get in touch and let me know what you think.

I have a MySpace profile and I thought everyone was crazy for thinking MySpace wasn't safe. But then I saw how many people were getting hurt from it. I think that MySpace could be a safe place, but there are too many people who give out too much information and it isn't smart at all. You are putting yourself in jeopardy... it's not MySpace's fault. — Brody

Name: Email address: Comments: Privacy Policy

F-Secure Internet Security 2007 The parental controls have greatly improved, with access to the Internet now being limited according to individually configurable and content-based predefinitions for parent, teenager and child accounts. This uses a combination of whitelists, where you define sites that are allowed, and “safe for children” certification. Configuration options vary depending upon the profile — for teenagers, you can block sites by category such as Adult, Chat, Drugs or Web Mail, whereas the child profile is more a case of all or nothing. Logging is good and entries from the History log can be added to the allowed list with a single click. Time-based access restrictions can be applied, with overall performance equal to that of McAfee and far superior to Norton. — PC Pro Verdict: An almost perfect security suite, combining simplicity and solid protection with excellent value for money. F-Secure Internet Security

MySpace, MyKids: A Parent's Guide to Protecting Your Kids and Navigating MySpace.com Fox News reported that MySpace.com became the number one visited website in America in July of 2006. About 12% of MySpace visitors in October were under 18, according to the Associated Press. As more teens use the popular social networking site, concerns over their safety continue to grow. In a timely, informative book, Jason Illian clears up the confusion for parents who wonder if MySpace is safe. In addition to teaching adults how to log on to MySpace and set up an account, this valuable guide explains how parents can talk with their kids about their MySpace communications, join groups, forums, and bulletin boards to keep informed, and use filters, alerts, and other technologies to track their kids’ online activities. Jason Illian demonstrates that with careful use and close monitoring, MySpace can help kids facilitate relationships and help parents understand and interact with their children’s world like never before. USA UK Canada

MySpace for Moms and Dads: A Guide to Understanding the Risks and the Rewards You can’t ignore MySpace if you’re a parent — but you don’t have to be intimidated by it. This simple, step-by-step exploration of what MySpace means in your teen’s life helps even computer-challenged parents and grandparents understand this communication revolution and make informed, confident decisions about their teen’s use of MySpace. MySpace for Moms and Dads will help you understand the social networking revolution and equip you to make smart, confident decisions about your son’s or daughter’s use of MySpace and sites like it. Learn how to minimize the risks of MySpace and bring out its benefits and positive opportunities. You can not only ensure that your teen uses MySpace safely, but also use MySpace yourself to gain a window into your teen’s world. Find out how to tailor your teen’s use of MySpace to his or her present maturity level — and deepen your appreciation of the unique individual your son or daughter is in the bargain. . USA UK Canada

MySpace Unraveled: What it is and how to use it safely Do you know what your children are up to on MySpace? MySpace Unraveled: What it is and how to use it safely discusses the booming MySpace social-networking phenomenon and shows you exactly what you need know about MySpace and how to create a safe online experience for your kids. Written by Larry Magid and Anne Collier of Family Tech Talk, this short and extremely useful guide discusses what children are doing on social-networking Web sites and why they have become so popular. While other books on this subject discuss how to use social networking sites, this is the first guide to address the topics important to parents. With this book parents will learn the basics of online social networking; how children are using MySpace; positive and negative aspects of social networking web sites; Internet safety for kids; how to communicate with children about what they are doing online and what parental controls are available and how to use them. USA UK Canada

Generation MySpace: Helping Your Teen Survive Online Adolescence Does it seem like your teen can’t tear himself away from friends on the computer screen (except to text them on his cell phone)? That’s because MySpace, Facebook, and YouTube are your son or daughter’s life, not just another passing diversion. All that energy and time spent online is affecting your teen’s life in countless ways, from sexual pressure and privacy to social standing and self-esteem. Some schools are banning online networking sites, yet your child insists they’re "no big deal." Who’s right? Drawing on personal interviews with hundreds of teens, this book helps parents assess what they should — and shouldn't — be worried about. This is the guide to the world of online adolescence, where you’ll discover the appeal of MySpace, how interaction becomes addictive and how to stop it from taking control, how “friending” is redefining friendship, how young kids are "baring it all" to market themselves, and how to help your kids protect themselves. USA UK Canada

Totally Wired Hooking up via MySpace, bullying on a blog. Using a cell phone as a tracking device? Clearly, being a teen today isn't the same as it used to be. So what are LiveJournal, Xanga, Facebook, and MySpace, and what exactly are teens doing on these sites? Totally Wired is the first inside guide to what teens are really doing on the Internet and with technology today. Author Anastasia Goodstein creates an informative and accessible guide that covers topics such as social networking, blogging, cyberbullying, and much, much more. Including interviews with a cross section of industry professionals and teenagers, and loaded with fascinating statistics and revealing anecdotes, Totally Wired is the first guide that explains to parents in easy-to-understand terms what kids are really up to online, and arms parents with the knowledge they need to promote Internet safety. USA UK Canada

The Internet has transformed the way that people research, shop, conduct business, and communicate. But the Internet can be a perilous place for minors. The dangers are real and parents and teachers today are confronted with many threats that they simply do not understand. Keeping Safe Online

When I bought my new computer I was pleasantly surprised to find that it came with a webcam. The novelty quickly wore off, and it was soon packed away. However, it now appears that webcams are posing a danger to unsuspecting teenagers. Webcam Danger: Who's Watching?

Young men have been interested in pictures of naked women since ancient times; pornographic mosaics have been found in Roman homes. It comes as no surprise that 21st century boys aren't using the computer just to play games. In increasing numbers, they're using it to access X-rated websites. Young Men and Web Porn

Hollywood has been quick to collaborate with the $10 billion-a-year electronic gaming industry, resulting in movies based on video games. This rapidly expanding industry is causing many concerned parents to ask — what are the negative impacts, or is it just harmless fun? What Every Parent Needs to Know About Video Games

We may never fully understand teenagers, but we can learn more about them with Youth Culture 101. Cultural analyst and adolescent expert, Walt Mueller, shares research and trends to help you better understand your students and minister to them more effectively in their ever-changing world. Understanding Youth Culture