How Parents Can Keep Their Children Safe on MySpace.com

My daughter had long been a fan of websites like Xanga, Livejournal and Deviant Art, where she could make new friends, talk to others and display some of her artwork. Naturally, I wasn’t the least bit surprised when she joined the thousands of teenagers who were flocking to the latest internet hype, known as Myspace. Who was I to say anything; after all, I’d been a Myspacer for months! But Myspace has been all over the news, as of late, and it’s generated a great deal of controversy amongst parents. Is it a danger to our children? Should we put an end to it? The answers to these questions vary, but the key is taking it all one step at a time. Read on to learn how a Myspace mom helps to keep her children safe.

Communication is the most vital thing that you can have with your teenage son or daughter; far too many parents are too busy to take time out for their kids or, if they do talk to them, they have a bad habit of talking at them, rather than to them. Don’t spend all your time talking to your children, either… spend equal amounts of time listening as well. You’ll learn a great deal more.

The first thing that you have to realize, upon learning your child is on Myspace, is that it’s further ahead to go with the saying, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.” Why? Simply put because, if you forbid your child to ever go on there… there’s a good chance that s/he will do just that. Furthermore, if you breach a child’s trust, you end up severing those communication links altogether.