Just Give Me MySpace

Well I must say I feel as though a burden has been lifted ever since I got off of MySpace. Since that time I have realized more and more what a waste it is. This has also made me consider how productive and useful blogging is, though that is a whole other issue. MySpace in itself is not bad, but there are so many outlets for foolishness and 99.9 percent of the time it is used in that way. And yet it has become a cutural phenomenon, exploding in every level and age of society. Here is a excerpt from an article in businessweek.com about the MySpace generation: 

A preeminent spot among these virtual hangouts is MySpace.com, whose membership has nearly quadrupled since January alone, to 40 million members. Youngsters log on so obsessively that MySpace ranked No. 15 on the entire U.S. Internet in terms of page hits in October, according to Nielsen//NetRatings. Millions also hang out at other up-and-coming networks such as Facebook.com, which connects college students, and Xanga.com, an agglomeration of shared blogs. A second tier of some 300 smaller sites, such as Buzz-Oven, Classface.com, and Photobucket.com, operate under -- and often inside or next to -- the larger ones.

Although networks are still in their infancy, experts think they’re already creating new forms of social behavior that blur the distinctions between online and real-world interactions. In fact, today’s young generation largely ignores the difference. Most adults see the Web as a supplement to their daily lives. They tap into information, buy books or send flowers, exchange apartments, or link up with others who share passions for dogs, say, or opera. But for the most part, their social lives remain rooted in the traditional phone call and face-to-face interaction.

Why is MySpace such an attraction? MySpace has reduced communication to its cheapest form, made it okay to be somebody that you’re not, and has created another way to waste time. Users can leave comments, much like on a blog, on the person’s profile. These comments usually amount to nothing but childish gibberish. I would put some samples of comments in here, but most would be too vulgar or crude to post. So what is the deal? MySpace has become a "cool" thing to have. Whether you’re college age, high school age, or even still in jr. high, myspace is something that you have got to have to fit in and keep in touch with your friends. 

In the most recent episode of "Dateline," the topic was online sexual predators. This is nothing new in our society, but they happened to specifically mention MySpace. 

When “Dateline” surfed MySpace, we found scenes of binge drinking, apparent drug use, teens posing in underwear, and other members simulating sex, and in some cases even having it. We also found less provocative pages like Shannon ’s was, but potentially even more dangerous. Teens listed not only their names, and addresses, but even cell phone numbers and after school schedules.

 

I was not suprised when I saw this episode. Being that the main range of MySpace users are young people, it is a candy shop for sexual predators! Not only is there access to soft porn, but kids give out personal information left and right. Here is an article from Yahoo! News: 

HARTFORD, Conn. - Police are investigating whether as many as seven teenage girls have been sexually assaulted by men they met through the popular Web site MySpace.com. The girls, ages 12 to 16, are from Middletown and say they were fondled or had consensual sex with men who turned out to be older than they claimed. None of the incidents appeared to be violent, said Middletown Police Sgt. Bill McKenna. The social networking Web site allows users to create profiles that can include photos, personal information and even cell phone numbers.

 

Having said all that, I would challenge young Christians to rethink this whole MySpace thing. Is it really something worthwhile? Is it helpful in our walk with Christ? When I was on myspace, I felt as though I were just like everybody else. I would leave comments that had no value, and my profile was just a very vain way of boosting my ego. I thought I would go insane if I didn’t have MySpace, and I am all the more happy now that I am off. I encourage all of you to seperate yourself from the world by not reducing friendship to stupid comments, but instead to challenge the norm and not do what everybody else is doing. It is a fad, and it is one that I will not be a part of.

Stephen Meador is a student and a blogger. Find his blog at www.lifewithstephen.blogspot.com.