MySpace: A Virtual Buffet for Sex Offenders

Posted by Ken

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I’ve mentioned here before the risks involved with such online communities as MySpace and its ilk. Just this week it was reported that an investigation is underway to determine if as many as seven teenaged girls within Middletown, Conn. have been sexually assaulted by men they met at MySpace. There could be more because it’s possible they just haven’t stepped forward to claim they’ve been victimized.

Thankfully, there seems to have been no violence involved, but the girls were fondled or had sex with the men…men who were older than they claimed to be online.

Okay, let me get this straight. These girls were led to believe someone they met online was a certain age, then agreed to meet up with that someone. Stop right there. That’s the first mistake they made. Then they find out these men lied about their age. But instead of running away, they decided, “What the heck? I came here for a good time, so let’s just skip that age thing and get to know each other a little more intimately.” Do I have to tell you that was their second mistake?

Maybe news of how this sort of thing can end up in death hasn’t made it’s way up to Connecticut.

For every kid you find who uses common sense online, you find maybe half a dozen others who don’t. What is it about our society (about parents?) that has just thrown all sense out the window?

Maybe you’re old enough to remember what a PenPal is. I wasn’t much into that when I was a kid, but I’ve heard of people meeting with their counterparts. I think it’s reasonable to assume scenarios like the ones happening on MySpace existed back then, it’s just that the Web has not only made it easier and faster, but even deadlier because you can be so much more convincing online in ways that you couldn’t in a letter. Using good judgement was just as important when using that form of communication. But, alas, I’d venture to say that good judgement cannot be found in abundance in certain places on the Net.

MySpace and other communities like it may have a plus side, but believe me when I say that positive side is being overshadowed by the way it can be abused and how it can assist in abusing others. It’s a place that invites sexual predators with open arms, allows X-rated material to be easily accessible by anyone who visits (I’m not kidding when I say that!), and if it does enforce it’s own policies, then it does them in a lazy way.

Talk to your kids. Let them know you care about them and reaffirm with them that they’re not to give away their personal information — or anyone’s for that matter. Get involved with their lives. This simple act could be all that stands between them and becoming a victim.