Since my last column on family rules and the Internet a number of people have asked about their kids use of MySpace.com. Even if you haven’t heard of MySpace.com you can be certain your teen has. MySpace currently has over 50 million registered members, most under the age of 22. MySpace recently passed Google in terms of number of hits and the number of pages viewed monthly. It is the fourth most popular website on the internet today according to a MySpace.com Tutorial posted by The National Institute of Media and the Family ( www.mediafamily.org ).

The Institute, a research-based organization on the positive and harmful effects of media on children and youth, is a great resource for parents on media-based issues. They accurately describe a MySpace profile as “an online version of teenagers’ bedrooms – plastered  with posters and pictures of friends, blaring popular music, and hosting a variety of notes and messages from a long list of MySpace “friends”. Kids spend hours chatting and blogging, listening to music, posting photos of themselves, and searching for other people to catch up with online.

Although your kids would prefer that their MySpace pages be a “kids only space” it is important that parents stay connected with this part of their teen’s life. MySpace.com is a fun place for kids to express themselves and socialize but like any place where kids hang out unsupervised it is not without risks. Parents should have their kids show them their site. Beyond a personal tour, I maintain that parents should have password access and inform their teen that they will make periodic visits just to be sure things are appropriate. The following cautions, which I have adapted from the Institute’s Tutorial, should help guide you and protect your kids:

? Watch for mean messages and “Cyber– Bullying.” Bullying other kids seems easier and consequence-free in an online, anonymous environment.
? Be prepared for lewd language and pictures. Don’t hesitate to have your kids disconnect from MySpace “friends” that post inappropriate material.
? There are Online Predators — teach your teen not to divulge personal information.
? Stay involved, check for multiple accounts, pay attention.
? Remember that a lot of the profiles contain fake information.

Rich Batten is the father of four, a certified family life educator and the family and consumer science agent for the Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Office in Douglas County Colorado. Rich and WB2 news anchor, Natalie Tysdal, discuss work and family issues every other Tuesday morning at approximately 6:40 AM.  For additional resources on family Internet rules visit www.douglascountyextension.org  and click Featured on the WB2.