Patrick702

MySpace is not the evil the media has turned it into. 67 year old predators don't lurk you're teens page.

Its a way for teens to communicate with friends.

Trina

I have both MySpace and Facebook. (Gasp! I'm over 40. LOL!) It's a fun way to communicate with friends and relatives, but my real reason for joining was so I could become familiar with this stuff before my kids get into it.

I believe the minimum age requirement to join is 14. My kids will not be allowed to join until at least 14, but even so, it they're not interested, I won't encourage it. They both have their own PCs, but their Internet usage is closely monitored and we will continue to do so, especially when they're teens.

WhoCares

Since I'm not monitoring my kids' accounts, I think it's fine when they decide to have a MySpace account. My older kids are 9 and 8 and don't have accounts yet because they are not interested but when they want, they will have and I don't insist them to tell me or something. It's their own business to have or not to have an account wherever it is. I have talked with them about internet and they decided not to set up dates with unknown people. I lead the conversation, so they reached to that conclusion without me putting it as a rule. Now they follow it strictly because they thought it out. If they want to date people from the chat-rooms or Skype, I won't let them until they are at least 16 because it is not safe enough if you are younger.

Dadu2004

You do realize that minimum age for My Space is 13, right? So, you would allow your children to break the rules and sign up earlier if they wanted to? It seems to me that this and your post about online dangers that you are quite niave to the dangers of the internet.

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HappyMomma

The problem with saying "I won't let them" is that you may not always know. I've known someone in real life that had a runaway child with a 23 year old man that they met on myspace. They still have yet to find her.

Unfortunately, that is not the only real life story I've heard... that is just the worst one.

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The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable.
~Lane Olinghouse

WhoCares

That exactly "rule" will not kill anyone if not followed correctly. What's wrong with having a MySpace? MySpace is not for 13+, it's for anyone who wants, just like every other site and forum. If a child knows how to sign up, put info and photos, they ar eold enough to do it, because it shows the least intelligence required to participate in sites and forums. My children aren't thrilled to have accounts in MySpace but I see nothing wrong with them having if they want to. I don't get it - you all find dangers where even the danger can't find itself. Grow up and let your children be responsible and mature. Let your kids show you that they aren't bumpheads.

fallon

an 8 and 9 yr old have no business on myspace...it clearly states that it is in fact there for people 13+. Maybe it's you should grow up and realize that you're allowing your kids to step into dangerous situations

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Cleverly Disguised As A Responsible Adult

cmp

My daughter (14) does not have a MySpace account, but does have a facebook. I helped her sign up and so I know her account and password and she even tells me to check out what a friend has posted on her account every once in a while.

Letting your child sign up before the age that it states in the terms of agreement (for MySpace or Facebook) is breaking the rules. What a great example to set for your children.

enchilada50

Oh, dude. I know this is off-topic and you're already banned, but if my arithmetic is to be trusted, you were 16 when you had your son? Damn, that was young.

Catheaven

My oldest daughter is almost 13. She's has a myspace acct. We monitor it on surprise occassion. Myspace actually does go through the accounts and will delete accounts for those that "appear" under the age 14 rule. My daughter and her friends have had their sites taken down b/c the admins can tell they are younger. So it's nice to know that myspace does get monitored to an extent.
She uses her myspace acct mainly to keep in touch with friends that have moved out of the area. I don't mind her using it and we've had the constand talks about those type of people and she's not suppose to share any info etc. She's good and she listens.
Luckily i don't have to worry about my 5 yr old. She's only on the computer every once in awhile playing on nick.com or disney.