When your kids are growing up you tell them not to talk to strangers. You explain to them that sometimes that nice man trying to give us candy may not be so nice after all and may hurt them. Then they reach the age where they start using the Internet to talk with their friends and parents have to start worrying about their kids and strangers all over again. Myspace is a whole new playground and parents have to learn about it so that they can help keep their children safe.

The first suggestion I have is not to let your teen have their computer in their bedroom. The computer should be in a shared area where you can check what their doing without them or you feeling like you're a spy. Even before their were sites like Myspace this was a good suggestion given to parents.

To get a better understanding of Myspace you should log on for yourself. You don't have to get an account to check into how your teen can use the site safely. Myspace offers the following safety tips to parents;

1. Start a Conversation
Talk to your kids about why they use MySpace, how they communicate with others, and how they represent themselves online. Recognize the importance of social networking in their daily lives, similar to that of cell phones, email, or instant messenger, and express an interest in understanding the role it plays.
Ask them why they like being online and who they hang out with online. Ask them to show you their friends, what they are listening to, and what interests them within the community.

2. Report Inappropriate Behavior
Harassment, hate speech, and inappropriate content all violate the MySpace Terms of Use and should be reported. If your kids encounter inappropriate behavior, they should report it to you, the authorities and/or MySpace, as the situation merits. To report a problem, go to Contact MySpace and select "Reporting Abuse."

3. Talk About MySpace and the Internet
MySpace, like the rest of the online world, is a public space. Members shouldn't post anything they wouldn't want the world to know (e.g., phone number, address, IM screen name, or specific whereabouts). Tell your teens they should avoid posting anything that would make it easy for a stranger to find them, such as their local hangouts.
Remind them not to post anything that could embarrass them in the future or expose them to danger. Although MySpace is public, teens sometimes forget that the information and photos they post are accessible to others.

4. Remind Teens to Be Cautious
Just as in the offline world, people aren't always who they say they are. Remind your teens to be careful about adding strangers to their friends list. It's fun to connect with new MySpace friends from all over the world, but members should be cautious when communicating with people they don't know.
Encourage teens to be themselves, but to exercise the same basic safety principles they do in the physical world. They wouldn't chat with a stranger at the mall or give someone they don't know their cell phone number. Remind them that reckless online behavior can be just as dangerous.
They should talk to you if they want to meet an online friend in person, and if you think it's safe, any meeting should take place in public, with friends or a trusted adult present.

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