myspace getting negative attention Options

[Im So Vain]

Police probe alleged MySpace-linked sex crimes
Teen girls met older men through social networking site, police say
  COMING UP ON DATELINE NBC      

• Feb. 3, Friday, 9 p.m.
Tune in to Dateline's ongoing hidden camera investigation into computer sex predators -- grown men, trolling Internet chatrooms for young teenagers. This time, police are making arrests.

Updated: 11:55 a.m. ET Feb. 3, 2006
HARTFORD, Conn. - Police are investigating whether as many as seven teenage girls have been sexually assaulted by men they met through the popular Web site MySpace.com.

The girls, ages 12 to 16, are from Middletown and say they were fondled or had consensual sex with men who turned out to be older than they claimed. None of the incidents appeared to be violent, said Middletown Police Sgt. Bill McKenna.

He said it was difficult to determine the exact number of victims because some girls have been reluctant to disclose that they met their assailants online.


The social networking Web site allows users to create profiles that can include photos, personal information and even cell phone numbers.


In a statement Thursday, MySpace.com said it was committed to providing a safe environment for its users. The site, which includes safety tips, also prohibits use by anyone younger than 14, though a disclaimer says the people who run the site can't always tell if users are lying about their ages.

Copyright 2006 The Associated

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11165576/

Is it just me or does it seem like myspace is constantly in the news all of a sudden. A lot of these young girls on the net these days are just not thinking straight. And also my chemistry teacher who is also a professor at Stanford University said that some colleges are starting to look at prospective students myspace pages, to see what their personality is like. And if they do not like what they see they will deny you admission.


WHat do you guys think about all this?

[Gerifan04]

I just can't feel bad for these girls. They're stupid. I've been on the net since I was 14 and I've never been that stupid. Yeah I've met some shady people online. But I always break off communication if they give me bad vibes. Also I have a rule. I won't meet them online unless I have seen them on a webcam. Yeah that limits people who don't have a cam but I'm not willing to trust people. Several times on forums and such I've seen people say they're someone else, just pretending. So I always go on the net knowing one thing especially. "Anyone at any time could turn out to not be who they say.." Its simple but amazingly this common sense is lacked in people like those girls.

Also, you always meet someone online at a mall or anywhere very public and crowded. Especially try to find a place that has security.

ETA: Sorry, I meant to say I wont' meet them "offline" if I haven't seen them on cam. Sorry if I gave the wrong idea.