No Parental Controls
Feb. 6, 2006 at 5:25 PM
Homeschooling
According to a Boston Globe article, police in Connecticut are investigating whether the assaults of seven young girls was sparked by conversations on MySpace.com. The men allegedly found out about the girls through the website. Parents are upset about the lack of oversight and controls by the administrators of MySpace.com. Connecticut State Attorney General Blumenthal commented,
Some may view MySpace maybe as parents worst nightmare. In reality, the parents lack of control has turned into the young girls worst nightmare.
(HT: Daryl )
Related Tags: parenting, myspace.com, blogging, blogs, teens, homeschooling
As a parent, I find it appalling and abhorrent that a Web site would so poorly police its pages," Blumenthal said. "This Web site is a parent's worst nightmare."I am sorry that this happened to the girls, but is this a MySpace problem or a parenting problem? I find it amazing that a parent would expect any company to do what they won't do on their own - monitor their children. I have seen many parents just drop their children off at the library to do "homework". The next thing you know these kids are online chatting away with no supervision at all.
Some may view MySpace maybe as parents worst nightmare. In reality, the parents lack of control has turned into the young girls worst nightmare.
(HT: Daryl )
4 Comments and Trackbacks
posted by blestwithsons on Feb. 6, 2006 at 6:00 PM
I just recently set up a myspace account so I could keep up with the teens from the youth group at my old church. I like being able to reach out to them and touch base - not to mention see how they're doing and pray for them in an informed way. But it is also heart-breaking. Most of these young people are seemingly concerned with nothing but boyfriends and girlfriends and looking as sexy as possible. And the amount of personal information they put on there is mind-boggling. Sigh.
posted by spunkyhomeschool on Feb. 6, 2006 at 7:28 PM
Blest,
Do you talk to the children or their parents about what the content is on some of the blogs? How would you handle it if a church youth had links or posted things which were inappropriate?
posted by CMMomma on Feb. 6, 2006 at 10:02 PM
My computer is in the living room for everyone to see. The children (though they are 9 and under) do not get on the computer without my permission and only the oldest is allowed to get online AFTER he has told me what he plans to do and gets my permission. I have explained to him why this is not up for discussion and he understands. I just don't understand how parents can be so nonchalant about the safety of their kids. I guess by that time they are so used to letting their kids go (after them being in the PS system for so long), that they expect the village to raise them for them. It is sad.
Wyndee
posted by blestwithsons on Feb. 6, 2006 at 10:42 PM
Well Spunky, we tried often enough when I was there to talk to the parents about what their daughters were wearing to church...! They weren't concerned.
If I saw anything unusually alarming - like drugs, thoughts of violence, or the choking game - absolutely I would at the very least contact the youth pastor (who is on myspace too) and probably call the parents. As it is, it's just the kind of thing that makes you sad when you know that all that flirty stuff doesn't have to be normal. Of these kids- only one is a homeschooler. Now his site makes me proud to know him.