Too Young to Network
Posted By: J.M.B | May 19, 2010 | 3 comments
I began researching this post with the intention of exploring why it is socially accepted to be an adult “super-fan” of a child star (i.e. Justin Bieber, Miley Cyrus, etc), when we crack down so hard on sexual harassment of minors in “real-life.” In doing so, however, I stumbled upon an even more disturbing issue.
I was looking through the comments on 16-year-old Justin Bieber’s MySpace page, trying to get an idea of exactly how many adults (18+) follow him/his career so closely. What I found first were the faces (and in some cases, more) of children. Not just 15 – 17 years olds; children. Children who obviously claim to be several years older than they are. I would put money on the fact that I saw the pages of kids as young as 8 years old.
How is this possible when access is age-restricted, you ask? Oh, it’s more than possible. It’s easy. “Age-Restriction” to social networking sites is a joke. When you sign up, they ask you to check the little box that confirms you are older than 18 (I think MySpace is 16+ now; possibly younger.) OR, they ask you to enter in your birthday… Kids aren’t stupid. Anyone who enters a birth-year any later than 1992 is under the age of 18. Do you really think a 12 year old is going to see that and say “Oh, well. I’ll try back in 6 years.”? No. He or she is going to virtually add on 6 more years to his or her life. MySpace and Facebook don’t care about your child, they care about saving their asses should anything happen to them.
Parents can be almost as naive to the dangers of these sites as their children are. If you’re a parent, and your child does not have a MySpace or Facebook profile, I have one question for you: Are you sure? With every generation, the technological knowledge among youth is beyond that of the previous. As easy as it is to lie about their age, it is just as easy to create a profile behind your back and keep it from you. So you may want to double-check your computer and internet history just to make sure.
This issue really bothers me, and it hits home in more ways than one, as I have a niece and nephew, both under the age of 16, who have Facebook pages. And, of course, upon visiting those pages, I am able to see hundreds of their friends from school. I hate it, but there’s nothing I can do about it because they’re smart like their aunt, and they beat the system.
To see what I saw today while surfing MySpace made me sick to my stomach and, above all else, angry. Angry at the media for promoting sex and hyping up social networking sites, angry at parents who are stupid enough allow their teeny-boppers to join them and angry at the kids for being lying little brats. But the kids don’t know any better, and that’s why it’s so dangerous! They are more exposed to how “cool” it is to expose themselves like that than they are to all the possibilities of cyber-bullying, sexual predators, and sometimes murder. YES. Murder. Children who are murdered because they met the wrong person on MySpace.
So, with all this in mind, I found a website where I could create a petition to promote stricter access to social networking sites that are for ADULTS; which you hopefully will visit and sign here.
Please join me in the fight to keep children off MySpace and Facebook- they don’t belong there, and it’s time to do something about it!
Does THIS look like a 15 year old to you? Yeah- try 7.
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Aaron Van Gossen May 22, 2010 at 1:35 pm
I’m no prude either but I wouldn’t let my 7 year old dance like this either. In fact I would let my 16 year old dress like either, but I’m a good parent. Or at least I will be.
And it’s the same parents who let their 7 year olds dance like that in public who claim that gay marriage is ruining the family unit. I wonder how many pedophiles have watched that video by now.
I agree, IDIOTS!Ilene May 21, 2010 at 1:27 am
When you have parents who encourage their 7-year old girls to dance like this,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnTyvqYT3Y8
then how can we expect anything different? I’m no prude, but I think this kind of dancing should at least be done by women who’ve reached puberty for chrissake. These parents were shocked when they heard that people were horrified to see this video and how their children danced. Let them be kids while they still can. Jeesh! In about 5 or 6 years I can see a bunch of young girls knocked up. Surprise, Mom and Dad! You idiots.
Aaron Van Gossen May 20, 2010 at 11:39 am
Unfortunately you’re right. Kids are smart, sometimes smarter than their parents and no matter what parents do kids will always find a way around it. Didn’t you? I think what it comes down to is just being good parents and teaching your kids what to watch out for and how to take care of themselves. Sort of like the internet version of never take candy from strangers. Do I think your petition will work? Unfortunately, no. I applaud your effort to keep kids safe but ultimately it comes down to good parenting in the end, and if these kids don’t have good parents then they’re f-cked one way or the other.
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