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Day2's Blog

by Day2 from Rowlett, Texas

Last Post 292 days, 15 hours Ago


Minors - No Place For Myspace?
Feb 10, 2008 | 7:20 PM
Category: News
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I would consider myself a young-hip mother.  I pick my battles with my children very carefully.  There are just some things not worth fighting over - the length of their hair, the color of the fingernails, or if they want to put an earing in their ear.  Instead I preserve my energy for the bigger battles that lie ahead of us:  Education, Charity, Selecting Decent Friends, Awarenss of cultural differences and making  defending causes they truly care for a priority.

My kids created profiles on Myspace.  Myspace?  This is the popular online social networking site you can post pictures, leave comments for your friends and network.  Child predators lurk in every corner via this site and prey on unsuspecting, unmonitored and uneducated kids.

I faced a lot of scrutiny for allowing my kids to be on here!  My concern is that kids are doing Myspace, Facebook and countless other networking social websites with or without their parents' knowledge.  As a parent, you either get involved, learn the scoop, monitor your child or face severe dangers for not doing so!  Simply banning your kids from Myspace (or any other social network) will not solve the problem.  THIS IS LAZY PARENTING!! Kids will access the site at friend's homes, school, or via their cell phone if they have this capability.  GET INVOLVED!!

Try picking up a computer, learning a few things, get your own profile and be active in your child's life.  You can be on their Friend's list, you can monitor the comments that are left for them and see the comments they leave for others.  You also can make sure their profile is set to private and that they are not posting provocative pictures!

I can't tell you how many "good kids" i've seen profiles about that murder their reputation, and subject themselves to harms -way by posting all of their private information.  Where are THE PARENTS?? 

Get out of the dark ages, parents, and accept that we have come to new age of technology advancements that our past generations didn't have access to.  This means a little effort on your part.  This means not judging why kids are doing what they are doing - the fact is they are doing it.  They like it. 

No excuses by parents NOT being involved should be tolerated.  The step-by-step instructions are given.  You just have to take a little time to read them; therefore, if you are reading this, you can do it!

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Member Comments Total Comments: 9
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junecleaver read my blog view my photos
Feb 10, 2008 | 8:21 PM

You are a very smart parent. I bet you have great kids & have brought them up well. I never could understand parents handing their children a computer when they themselves don't even know how to turn one on. When I networked my house, I told my oldest daughter that I could access her information at any time. She knows I know how to do it. I told her the ins & outs of chatting (I chat regularly). I told her good rules & that a good rule of thumb is to stick with your school friends, especially in the beginning. My daughter knows not to put her personal information online, even her age. We have a good open communication in which she feels comfortable asking me things. That doesn't ensure that she won't encounter bad issues, but it greatly reduces the chances. Above all, she knows full well that I am computer literate & am not above snooping around if I feel I have reason.
LesleyAnne read my blog view my photos
Feb 10, 2008 | 8:40 PM

I am with you on this one, involvement is the only way to go. The more information our children have and we as parents have the better off we all are. My kids are grown now and myspace is one of our main forms of communication, along with instant message and the phone of course, as they are away from home.
Day2 read my blog
Feb 10, 2008 | 8:40 PM

Junecleaver...thank you for the compliments! It means a lot to me. I'm thrilled that you are an active part of you child's online life.

Once upon a time a boy had a picture of himself smoking pot. He showed up at my house!! I told him to go away!! he had no idea I saw his profile on myspace, but thank goodness I did!!!! I would have never kwnown he was this way, but thank goodness for Myspace. As a parent it gives me another tool to check out my kid's friends and what they are up to.
terrellmom read my blog view my photos
Feb 11, 2008 | 7:36 AM

Gotta agree on this one...parents have got to be more involved with what their kids are doing but sadly too many parents just simply don't care. my youngest are too young for myspace but my oldest had a myspace page and he knew i could and would check it. the computer needs to be in a public part of the house.
oldrocker37 read my blog
Feb 11, 2008 | 8:47 AM

Both of my teenagers have a myspace page. They are 15 & 18. I've required both of them to have me on their friends list and I read through comments here and there. I've brought up things I've read just to keep them on their toes...never know when mom is going to take a look!! Of course, I also have a very nice computer program that tells me every website and every keystroke that is made....hehehe...but they don't know that. One more added level of protection!! The computer is in the dining room...not in their rooms so I can just round the corner anytime and see what they have up there.

So, be involved in what your kids are doing and seeing on the internet. You are right....it's not hard and it's my job as a parent.

I love that....get out of the dark ages parents! So true!!
scottbee1948 read my blog view my photos
Feb 11, 2008 | 11:32 AM

You know it's really good to read about parents really caring, since we hear so much about some that don't give a hoot what their kids are doing.

Thank goodness for the moms above. Believe me it will pay off in the long run.
SHABO1015 read my blog view my photos
Feb 11, 2008 | 12:00 PM

I THINK YOUR STRATEGY IS GREAT AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU HAVE WONDERFUL PARENTING SKILLS AND YOU WOULD BE A GREAT ASSET TO YOUR CHILDRENS LIVES. I AM TAKING YOUR ADVISE AND RUNNING WITH IT. I HAVE BEEN THE "LAZY PARENT", NOT ALLOWING MY DAUGHTER TO CREATE A MYSPACE PROFILE FOR FEAR THAT SHE WOULD COME UP MISSING WITHIN THE FIRST 30 MINUTES OF ITS EXISTANCE. I THINK THAT I SHOULD GIVE HER A LITTLE ROOM TO GROW, BUT LAY DOWN THE GUIDLINES BEFORE ALLOWING HER TO DO SO. IM ALSO GOING TO INCORPORATE MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO HELP. CHECKING IN ON HER FROM TIME TO TIME. THE ONE RULE THAT IM MAKING THOUGH IS, IF SHE WANTS TO CREATE AND MAINTAIN A MYSPACE PROFILE, HER PERSONAL COMPUTER MUST BE MOVED FROM THE PRIVACY OF HER ROOM TO THE LIVING ROOM. ITS NOT THAT I DONT TRUST HER, BECAUSE I DO. ITS THE OTHER CREEPS IN THE WORLD THAT CANT BE TRUSTED. THAT WAY I HAVE FULL VIEW OF THE EVENTS UNFOLDING. NOW, I DONT PLAN TO STAND OVER HER AND WATCH EVERY SINGLE LETTER THAT SHE TYPES, BUT IT MAKES HER AWARE THAT I AM IN THE ROOM AND COULD BE GLANCING OVER AT ANYTIME TO "CHECK UP" ON HER. IT KEEPS BOTH HER AND I ON OUR TOES! AGAIN, THANKS FOR THE ADVISE
cjl1618 read my blog view my photos
Feb 12, 2008 | 5:39 PM

A lot of kids have profiles that mom and dad know about.

They also have profiles you have no idea they have. Those are the profiles with pictures posted you would be shocked to see of them and music that you would ban in your house.

These sites to me are dangerous.

They also have multiple email addresses you have no idea they have AND there is NO WAY for you to find out they have them.

Just because a kid can show you all of their site info, don't think for a minute that that is what they show their friends.
Day2 read my blog
Feb 12, 2008 | 5:45 PM

Get monitoring software if you suspect that there are multiple profiles being created. the profile the parent sees should be getting daily activity from kids that you know or familiar with. If the site sits idle and the child IS on the computer, that could be a red flag.
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Day2

I am an inspired individual who enjoys sharing ideas to promote a safer and better community in the best interest of all citizens. I am a mother of 3 children, I work full-time (love what I do) and believe that you have to take a stance and express your viewpoint sometimes even when it's not popular. This is a gr8 venue for expressing these viewpoints. I enjoying sharing thoughts with you all on FOX4! Thank you FOX4 for making this possible!

Member Since: 2/9/2008


 

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