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First off let's be clear that the Internet is not a safe place, it's convenient, it's entertaining and it can very educational, but never safe.

As for MySpace, like all other social networking sites, the premise is that it a place that like minded individuals can come together and share ideas and network. Unfortunately, about 80% of people on these sites are figments, ghosts. These peoples profiles do not reflect who they really are, and that can lead to some rather bad consequences. What you have to remember is that these types of sites allow you to be anyone you want, the unpopular can become a star and vice versa.

A lot of what you see on MySpace and other sites like it is trolling. Users create attractive profiles and have flashy websites that draw in certain groups,they show empathy to what ever cause is popular that day and reel them in. I'm not saying that today's teenager is naive, quite the opposite, these teens are very savvy about these sites. But that does not ensure safety, because there will always be someone just a little bit more savvy and present just the right kind of bait.

As a parent myself I am concerned about the alternate life on the web that is so attractive to the young. But I know that the only way to make sure that my kids do not fall for it, is to give them a real life. Let them know what it means to live in this reality and that they do not need to go cyber to forget about the real world.

Ultimately, the responsibility of Internet safety falls on all of us. Make sure that you know what it is before you let it in.

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