Protecting Your Privacy on MySpace

One may ask why I choose to write an article showing people how to hide on Myspace. I did so for two reasons. One, due to personal experience, I've had to take measures to shield my identity from those I do not want to see it. Secondly, I created this article because of the younger myspace audience. I am concerned for the multitude of children and teenagers on Myspace, and want to protect them in any way possible. Here are ten ways in which you can protect you and your children's privacy on Myspace.

1) When you sign up for Myspace, do not choose an url address. You can never change your url and can always be found by it.

2) Do not sign up using the same email address you use for work or school. (The same goes for your real name.) Anyone can enter said information in Search and find you. If you use your myspace profile expressly for personal reasons, you might not want your co-workers or classmates in on the intimate details of your private life.

3) Change your display name and main picture periodically. Choose an icon or art picture for your main picture so that you won't be recognized.

4) Make sure your profile is private. There is no way anyone can view a private profile unless they are added as a friend or know your password.

5) Make it so that only people on your friends list can view your pictures. (When posting pictures of yourself, make sure that your street address, job location or bulletin board with your bill posted on it, etc. is not showing in the picture.)

6) If ever you are somehow signed out after clicking on a link and prompted to sign in again, DON'T! Type in the Myspace address in the address bar again (www.myspace.com) and sign in on the home page. Passwords are coveted daily under the guise of a fake myspace sign-in pages. If your password and profile are hijacked, alert Myspace. (http://www.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=misc.contact). Usually you are asked to send in a pic of yourself with a piece of paper saying Myspace on it, along with other relevant information.