This has been fairly big news locally over the past few days:
The state attorney general’s office is investigating a website popular with teens that police say is linked to the arrest last month of a Berlin man accused of sexually assaulting a 14-year-old Bristol girl.
The website, MySpace.com, is also at the center of five sexual misconduct investigations in Middletown and is raising concerns among other police departments across the state, as well as with school officials and parents.
Bristol Police Chief John DiVenere said parents need to monitor information their children are putting on the site.
“I’ve seen some of the postings on the website and they are horrendous,” DiVenere said. “The way [teens] portray themselves and the photographs and personal information they provide for the site should raise a lot of concern for any responsible parent.”
I’ve written about this previously. It’s entirely understandable that teenagers would seek sites to express themselves and personalize in the virtual world. Sites like Livejournal and MySpace are wonderful places to network and find new friends with similar or complimentary interests. And, its a shame that sometimes teens (and adults) lack the wisdom to avoid crossing the line between self-expression and disclosing too much information.
And, it’s even more of a shame that there are those who would take advantage of younger people through what-should-be-innocuous sites like LJ and MySpace. Sometimes it seems like this is an awfully sick, sick world….
2 responses so far ↓
1 brandyy // 23 Feb 2006 at 1:56 am
i have myspace and i personally dont feel myspace is to blame cause if it wasnt myspace it would be something else and its all about educating ourselves and our children about the information we give out online and on myspace and other sites like it ….
i am a grown adult and i had to go back and change some of the information i gave out such as where i am from town and state. i erased the city i lived in so its not just children who need to be educated …
sincerely, brandi
2 Ginger // 12 Apr 2006 at 1:08 pm
I don’t feel it is because of myspace, I feel that there are many predators out there looking to do harm and doing it in places that they see the mass majority being children. These people are a sore on the public and need to be stopped.
Myspace was a creation to allow kids to choose what types of entertainment they like and for marketing companies to gage what is going to sell and what is not, (thanks rupert murdoch!)
We as bands are there to promote ourselves without the need for major labels. It allows us access to unlimited amounts of fan bases. But, since the news of Myspace predators has come to light and is getting media attention, some of us bands are banning together to creat a change. We want it to be a safe environment for kids, because this allows us to be heard and sell to the masses.
As entertainers we have decided to take it upon ourselves to make it more user friendly for teens. I for one would like to let people know that we are taking responsibility for what we put out there and ask that parents and teens do the same. We want it to be a safe, fun environment for children to use.
We would like them to enjoy coming to our websites, listen to our music, make comments and forward it to their friends to add onto, as well as make it friendly enough for parents to approve of.
We have the responsibility as entertainers to be careful about what we put out and the way it is advertised. We have a moral obligation to our fan bases, it starts with us.
So I would like people to know, that we are trying to make a difference and would like their help. If you would like to check us out or be added on as a friend, just email us. I check everyone out who comes to my site, i visit them regularly and send comments as well. We all need to be responsible. If we are vigilent and work together, we can stop this.
I for one am making a change for the better on myspace and hope everyone else does the same.
Back Alley will be sending out info helping the federal agents and their websites to inform teens on what to do if they come across a predator. We will send out bulletins on a weekly basis reminding teens of what to say and what not to post on their sites to keep them safe.
It is my hope that we can all work together to return MYSPACE to what it was originally made for. A place for teens to come and express themselves openly and a place for us to reach the younger audience and have our music make a difference.
Sincerely,
Ginger
Back Alley