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So you want to sue MySpace

I believe, firmly that MySpace lacks anything close to "supervision" of it's members. I believe that they consist, as their policies stand now, of nothing more than a shopping center for those who would use a computer to stalk, seduce and abuse wayward children. As an adult arena- they just might be okay, but at this moment, they clearly are little more than a children's playground.
That being said:
Just how many TV shows, newspaper stories and network news casts need to be seen by a parent before the problem becomes not a MySpace problem but a lack of parental control problem? Let's face it, if you 14 year old kid has a unsupervised MySpace account... And you're okay with that, then you have to be willing to fully accept blame for whatever their usage of the site causes. After all, YOU are the parent. It's not MySpaces job to step in and explain to YOUR kid why meeting someone from the internet is a BAD BAD BAD idea.
Sadly, not everyone gets that little "take some freaking responsibly" idea. Instead when their kid decides to become involved with a stranger meet in some online community, and ends up being assaulted by said person- they feel justified in completely blaming MySpace.

Now, all of you know, I dislike MySpace, and usually am more than willing to pass the blame on to what I consider a careless company that has no regard for the safety of it's users. But, come on even I get tired of watching all the warnings, all the commercials, and reading all the stories. Because, in the end, it's really up to the parents to raise their kids. You should be controlling their online activities, not leaving that up to companies like MySpace whose real motive is the almighty dollar.

Suing MySpace because your kid was allowed online without your parental control is just like throwing your child in a lake, turning your back as they drown, and then suing the state for having a lake in that location.

The girl says a 19-year-old man lied in his profile about being a senior on a football team to gain her trust and phone number.

Pete Solis was arrested in May on a charge of sexual assault of a child. He could not immediately be reached Monday evening.

The suit alleges that MySpace has "absolutely no meaningful protections or security measures to protect underage users."

"(MySpace) has got to take this seriously," said attorney Carl Barry, who is representing the girl and her mother. The suit seeks $30 million.


Girl, 14, sues MySpace.com alleging assault - Yahoo! News

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Comments

Anonymous said…
I agree with everything you just said. Why is it that parents aren't monitoring what their kids are doing?

I sometimes think that as long as kids are in their rooms,not bothering Mom and Dad, then that must be what matter's most to some parents. It's a shame that it takes a tragedy to wake some parents up.
Anonymous said…
i personally think that when something happens as a result of an unsupervised child online the parents should be charged with neglect and child endangering. because that is what it is . parents are neglecting to supervise their child and endangering their lives .
maybe if parents start getting charged and prosecuted it will set an example and more parents will take concern that they will be in trouble .
i agree it is not myspace's fault per-say . i am sure when it was created the thought of child molesters and unsupervised children never crossed their minds. and they like so many of us probably took for granted the thought parents would take resonsibility and actually watch their children and monitor their activities online .
Anonymous said…
Unfortunately, I have had situations with MySpace and it is NOT due to lack of parental control. My youngest was banned from MySpace and proceeded to create a new identity from a friend's computer. She is strictly watched here at home and actually has lost her right to the computer from inapporpriate language in IM! (of which I know all her IM buddies). So, sometimes, no matter how much supervision you give at home, all it takes is a friend with a computer in their room for the danger to come through anyway.
Lilo said…
Anna, I wasn't attempting to clear MySpace of any guilt. I believe they enable predators to shop for their prey, and that they should be faulted for a lot of the activity going on.
My problem lies with this particular case.
First, she willingly broke the terms of use when she lied about her age at 13 in order to have a Myspace account.
Second, if she had a profile listing her as 14 or even 15- there is a system in place that prevents others from seeing that profile, IMing that member, and emailing that member- which means that more than likely she made contact first.
And I think it was the news clip where she was said to have been decieved by him, that she had only agreed to meet him because he said he was a senior and a football player. As if that would have made her lying about her age, and breaking MySpace terms OK.
I feel bad for what happened to her, I do. But the results of her actions can not be completely blamed on MySpace, at some point this parent needs to teach her child about cause and effect, and sadly- she didn't do a good job of it before this happened, and still is failing to.

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