The Pitfalls of MySpace

It seems like everyone in the world has a MySpace page these days. I admit this is a great networking tool and it is always nice to run into an old friend that you have lost touch with. I realize that the Internet is what it is. It is a means of mass communication, but it also a means of an anonymous communication. At least people like to believe it is. I am firm believer in importance of first impressions. Let's face it... the Internet is a place where great first impressions happen.

When it comes to MySpace, your page represents the first impression that you present to the rest of the Internet world. Below is a list of problems that can arise from your MySpace page:

1. Divulging too much personal information- This should be a common sense, but for some I realize common sense isn't quite that common. If you do not want to be stalked it's best to not invite danger to your doorstep. I know that the Internet creates a false sense of security, but it is just that...FALSE. There are people who use sites like MySpace to make their criminal activities easier to conduct. There are other people who would love to steal your identity, because there's in not getting them what they want out of life.

2. MySpace spreads far and wide- This means that the picture of you holding a beer bottle giving the camera the middle finger does not portray you has a very upstanding, positive person. Granted, there is nothing wrong with a good beer, but my point is...is it the first thing you want people to think of when they think of you? You never know who may stumble across your page. If you do not want your mom, teacher, or employer to know about your drug habits, I suggest not posting the picture of the Marijuana leaf on your page.

3. MySpace can breed liars and fakes-Ever notice how so many people on MySpace claim to be rich, famous, and intelligent? Stating that you make six figures and are self-employed can translate into you're really unemployed but either sell your body or drugs to get by. I realize that honesty is a difficult concept for many people to grasp, but it is an important one.

4. Your friends list reveals a lot about you-So you come across a page where someone appears to say all of the right things. They seem intelligent, honest, and just overall a great person. So then you decide this is someone you may want to get to know, regardless of what your intentions are. Now you scroll down and they have 3,000 friends of which 2,900 are semi-naked women. Some people may think nothing of this, but really your friends list tells a lot about you. This screams out for attention and tells the world that you have low self-esteem. You couldn't collect phone numbers from any females in the real world, let alone semi naked ones. So instead you decide to collect them on MySpace. It does not make you look cool and more desirable. It makes you look boring, tacky, and desperate.

5. Cheaters-The Internet itself has put a new twist on the art of cheating. It allows for people to meet and get straight to the point. You can view pictures and talk about what you want without even leaving your couch. By the time you meet someone all you have to do is find the sneaky location to complete your mission. The problem arises when your significant other is your number one friend and your new friend decides to use that to their advantage. Let's face it...people want what they can't have and some people will do anything to get it. So let's say you have that hot one night stand with a woman who seems very sane. She wakes up the next day and decides she is in love with you and will do whatever it takes to have you. She then logs onto MySpace and sees that picture of you and your significant other smiling and proclaiming your love for each other. At this point, this woman feels like making your life a little more difficult. So she then clicks on your significant other's page and clicks send message. Before you know it, your significant other knows everything about you little tryst that was completely meaningless to you. Now you have a great deal of explaining to do.

My point is...if you are someone who really is honest and respectable it is important to portray yourself as such. You can't complain when the only people you run into online seem psycho and sex-crazed when you are giving them the impression that is what you like. You cannot complain about being stalked by some crazy man when you have announced your love for sex and showed all of your goodies on your page. To some that is an open invitation.

Don't get me wrong, MySpace is a great way to stay in touch with your friends and do some networking. You may get lucky and make a new real friend. You may get even luckier and find a great date. It is just important to know that you only get out of it what you are wiling to put in. If you are okay with the world seeing you as a lazy, crazy, angry liar more power to you. If you do not want to be seen that way, make sure you are giving a great first impression. Think of it like you are meeting someone in person for the first time. Would you start off telling someone that you just met face to face that you are a hopeless loser who doesn't care about anything but drugs and sex? I doubt it. So let's brush up on our Internet etiquette and think twice about what our page tells the world about us.