Myspace Safety Tips for Parents: Hidden Myspace Elements and Facts that Could Harm Your Child

Parents today are well aware of the dangers that can lurk in the social networking scene for children and teens. Ever the cautious protectors, many take a glance at their children's Myspace pages from time to time just to ensure that everything is as it should be. However, a quick glance may not tell the entire story. Take a moment to carefully examine the following Myspace elements and facts that could harm your child's safety, and that may be hidden to you if you aren't an avid Myspace user yourself. (Note: While Myspace does what it can to protect kids and teens as a company, otherwise innocent attributes of this massive social networking site can be ill used by those under 18. Parents can benefit greatly from a behind-the-scenes look at what might be going on in their own homes).

Hidden Fact #1: Just because your child's profile is set to private, doesn't mean he/she can't talk to adults. Some parents are under the impression today that a private profile is an effective way of completely protecting their children from Myspace predators. While a good first step, creating a private profile doesn't prevent anyone from making a friend request to your child unless you actually alter the settings a bit. Have your child change their profile settings with a security measure that requires that anyone making a friend request either knows their email address or last name. If the potential "friend" cannot answer those questions, he/she will not be able to make the request.

Hidden Fact #2: Your child's Myspace profile should never be private to you. Make sure that your are on your child's friend list by creating your own Myspace account. All you need is an email address to set up your own account (you don't have to use your real name, a picture, or anything that would allow anyone other than your child to know who you are). While you may ask your child to allow you to view his/her private profile from time to time without your own Myspace account, not having access at all times means that, with a few quick adjustments, your child may be able to give you false impression of what is usually on the profile page.

Hidden Fact #3: The pictures you see on your child's profile page aren't the only ones he/she may have posted. Myspace accounts can actually utilize online photo albums, which is where many teens hide their more mature pictures from parents (especially a problem with young girls). Being able to satisfy you by giving you a quick glance of a profile page, knowing you won't ask to go deeper into the site, means that your child will be able to post whatever pictures he/she wishes for others to see just a few quick clicks away without parental repercussions. Make sure that you are able to view any and all photos your child is allowing others to view by clicking on the "pictures" link on his/her profile.

Hidden Fact #4: Many teens lie about their age on their profiles. Most parents immediately look for suspicious looking "friends" or inappropriate pictures on their children's Myspace pages without looking at the details. Beside your child's main photo will be an age. Always check it for accuracy, making sure that your child isn't trying to entice older "friends" to visit his/her profile.

Hidden Fact #5: Those on your child's friend list will be notified about his/her birthday. Emails are sent to those on your child's friend list on the day of his/her birthday to announce the occasion. While innocent enough, a common tactic of child molesters is feigning knowledge about a personal detail about a child or teen, such as a birth date, to lie about a former connection with him/ her (such as knowing the child's parents). If a person is on your child's friend list that you don't know, find out who they are and why they want updates on your child's life before any personal information is accidentally given out.

Hidden Fact #6: Once a relationship is begun with a predator, deleting friendship privileges won't solve the problem. Myspace predators are famous for creating multiple accounts and using them to repeatedly make friendships under new names with their targets. In other words, just because they are deleted from a friend list once doesn't mean they won't make a return under a different name. Abusive behavior may include repeated emailing, leaving abusive or inappropriate public comments, attempts at collecting personal information, and berating others on a child's friends list for the profile holder's personal information (phone number, address, etc). Because Myspace predators can be a nightmare, and even dangerous, it may be a good idea to have your child run any potential friendships by you first.

Hidden Fact #7: Many profiles on Myspace are business related and will target your child with products and purchase requests. Complete with personal photos of smiling faces, many Myspace profiles are merely created as free business websites that aim to target anyone who will accept their friendship requests. Once a friendship is made with your child, requests for money may be made. While certainly not all businesses on Myspace are predatory, there are those who will offer a questionable product with a large price tag and will offer a P.O. Box for which to send payments for orders. Be sure that your child knows he/she is strictly prohibited from sending money or giving out financial information for any reason.

Hidden Fact #8: Some Myspace sites lead to other sites that are not reviewed by Myspace staff. Many Myspace pages have "outgoing links" that your child may be asked to click on. While they may be told they are going to a safe site that leads to something wholesome and interesting for them, the result may instead be a destination ending in pornography, obscenity, viruses, product sales pages, information request pages, and more. Make sure your child knows that clicking on outbound links is not allowed, no matter how innocent they may seem.

Hidden Fact #9: Myspace has group games, forums, and other community offerings that your child may be taking part in. If your child is spending hours on Myspace, chances are he/ she isn't playing with profile preferences or leaving comments on friends' pages. The community offerings on Myspace are generally open to anyone and your child may even receive "invites" from others to participate. Be aware of what he/she is partaking in, and consider limiting your child's daily time on any social networking site that offers community-oriented services.

Hidden Fact #10: Other than blogs, your child can also post bulletins. Bulletins are quick notes that all friends on a child's profile can view. They are actually posted on the home pages of others. Be sure to frequently check your child's bulletin list to make sure that no personal information is being given, purposely or inadvertently.

Hidden Fact #11: Finally, a "profile" page is not a "home" page. To view what your child is really up to, including any incoming or outgoing emails as well as any bulletins he/she may be receiving, you must actually view his/her "home" page (something you cannot do without his/her help or password). Be sure that you know the difference, and that you check both pages for safety purposes.

Keeping your child safe on Myspace means much more than occasionally reviewing a profile. Be sure that you know what's really going on behind the scenes, and that your child isn't putting him/herself in harm's way. Also, keep in mind that with a few quick adjustments in your child's personal security settings you may be able to curb a few of the problems listed above with ease.