| The process of meeting people on MySpace is | | | | terms of services and makes an honest attempt to |
| extremely easy. MySpace is an online community | | | | enforce these terms but this can be a difficult task on |
| which encourages individuals from all over the world to | | | | the Internet |
| become involved and create an online profile. | | | | It is important to remember that the Internet allows a |
| Members are able to create a MySpace website | | | | certain degree of anonymity that can allow some |
| which they can use to provide others with information | | | | unscrupulous individuals to mask their true identity and |
| about them. Members are also encouraged to view | | | | convince other MySpace members they are someone |
| the websites belonging to other members to learn | | | | who they are really not. Common scenarios which |
| more about other members of the community. | | | | may occur on the Internet include individuals obtaining |
| Those who participate in MySpace can provide as | | | | enough information to steal the identity of another or |
| much or as little personal information as they wish and | | | | individuals obtaining information such as an address |
| are not required to give any specific information when | | | | which enables them to do physical harm to another |
| they design their website. Those who are willing to | | | | member of MySpace. Those who use MySpace |
| open up more, however, are likely to be more | | | | should be careful to ensure their private information is |
| interesting to other members and may accumulate | | | | kept private while they are online. Information which |
| friends very quickly on MySpace. | | | | can be used to harm them may include any |
| Searching for Friends on MySpace | | | | combination of the following: |
| The search feature can help new MySpace members | | | | * Full name |
| to find friends in the community. The search feature | | | | * Place of birth |
| allows users to enter in a particular word and provides | | | | * Names of children and information on when and |
| search results which include MySpace members' | | | | where they were born |
| websites which use this word. This is an interesting | | | | * High school and year of graduation |
| way to meet potential friends on MySpace because | | | | * Social security number |
| you can enter keywords which are associated to a | | | | * Credit card numbers |
| favorite hobby, band, book or other interest to find | | | | * Bank account numbers |
| others who share this interest. | | | | Some of the information above may seem harmless |
| Those on MySpace can use the search feature to | | | | but it is important to remember devious criminals can |
| find new friends but can also use the search feature | | | | use public resources such as newspapers and library |
| to meet find friends with whom you have lost touch | | | | books to find out more information about an individual. |
| over the years. Members can also search through | | | | When you are Being Harassed on MySpace |
| MySpace for users with a particular name although | | | | Harassment is a serious issue which the MySpace |
| this not always effective because users are not | | | | administrators take very seriously. However, the most |
| required to post their full name on their MySpace | | | | effective method they recommend for getting those |
| website. However, there are many who do include | | | | harassing you to stop is to ignore them. According to |
| their full name so trying this search feature is | | | | the FAQ page on MySpace 99.9% of harassment |
| worthwhile if you are looking to locate someone from | | | | situations diffuse if harassing emails are completely |
| your past on MySpace. | | | | ignored. You can also block users which prevents |
| Using Caution on MySpace | | | | them from contacting you through MySpace and |
| With any online community, caution should be used | | | | remove them from your friends list which will prevent |
| when cultivating friendships on MySpace. The vast | | | | them from adding comments. If another user has |
| majority of those who use MySpace are simply | | | | created a profile about you with malicious intent you |
| looking to either make new friends or find long last | | | | can contact MySpace customer service and provide |
| friends but there are a small percentage of users who | | | | them with a link to the profile and they will investigate |
| may have malicious intents. MySpace created their | | | | the profile and delete it if warranted. |