MySpace Safety - What Parents Should Know

MySpace: a word that strikes fear in the hearts of most parents. However, your child's MySpace account can act as a monitor and a security device if you take the correct precautions. Here is a list of ways to correctly use your child's MySpace account to keep them out of trouble.

First, check to see if your child has a MySpace. To do this, you first need to sign up for an account yourself. This is a relatively simple process that you can complete by going to MySpace.com and clicking on the "Sign Up" button on the main page. You do not have to fill in legitimate information here; simply list yourself under a pseudonym if you feel more comfortable doing so. This may be an important part of the process, depending on your intent in monitoring your child's activity. If you believe your child is hiding something, using a pseudonym will keep your identity concealed until you are ready to reveal it. If you feel comfortable with your child knowing you can see his or her account, you may want to use your own name to let them know you are aware of their activity.

Next, unless you know what your child's MySpace account name is, you'll need to perform a search. You can do this by clicking the "search" tab towards the top of the page. Using an e-mail address to search is the most time-efficient way of finding a person, so attempt that option first. If they are not listed under their e-mail, you may search by name and city, but be aware that this often comes up with hundreds of options.

Once you find your child's MySpace account page, monitoring is quite simple. My clicking on their page, you can view what comments people leave to them, cluing you in on who they are talking to and spending their time with. You can also click on their friends to see what comments they leave for others.

If you run into a message that says their account is marked as "private," this is a good sign. It says that your child is being responsible and blocking anyone who he or she is not friends with from contacting him or her. It can also mean that they have correctly identified themselves as underage (many children do not), and therefore no one except their friends can access their page. To get around this roadblock, you must become your child's MySpace "friend." To do this, click on the plus sign marked with "Add as Friend" beneath their picture. If your child is secure with their online behavior, they will accept your "friendship." If not, the discussion about their online activities can begin there.

There are many other ways to monitor your child's behavior online, but gaining access to their MySpace is the simplest. By viewing your child's MySpace page and comments, you can gain great insight into how they may (or may not) be putting themselves in harm's way.