Seven Steps to Make Myspace Safer

Myspace was designed for people 14 and older to communicate. The people you read about in the paper haven't followed these seven steps on how to make Myspace a place for friends without any fear.

1. Do Not Accept a Friend Request from Someone You Do Not Know

   A lot of times, people on Myspace add random people as their friends, just for the fun of it. Or, the person could want to harm you in some way, and wants to get your information. Just add the people you know, so you don't run into a rapist, child abductor, etc.

2. Always set Your Profile to Private

   If your profile is set to private, there isn't any way unwanted people are going to view your profile and all of its information; they have to be your friend first. The only thing they will see is your picture, your last login, how old you are, and where you live.

3. Lie About Where You Live

   Your friends don't need to know where you live. They should already know what city and state you live in. If an "unwanted person" of any kind sees that you live in, lets say, Armada, Michigan. The "unwanted person" could have the guts to go to Armada and try to find you. If you lied about where you live, the "unwanted person" will not be able to find you. Word to the wise, make sure that whichever city and state you choose from is real. If it isn't the "unwanted person" could see right through it. You can also lie about your age if you want; just make it believable.

4. Don't Put Too Much Personal Information in Your Myspace Profile

   I know a lot of people who put which hospital they were born at, where they go to school, and a whole autobiography about their life. I could read some of my friend's profiles and find out almost everything about them.
   
   Even if your profile is set to private, just in case some "unwanted person" sees your profile. Keeping information about yourself to a minimum ensures that "unwanted persons" do not see through your deception of where you live. Also, a lot of your friends just don't want to read your personal autobiography.

5. If You Do Add Someone You Do Not know, Do Not Plan on Meeting Them

   That's common sense, right? Wrong! If you read some of the papers you can see that some people on Myspace met with one of the "unwanted people" that they added to their friends list. You don't want to disappear, get raped, etc. Just don't plan on meeting them

6. Remember The Golden Rule

   The Golden Rule is: treat others how you would like to be treated. For example, don't keep messaging a person saying that they are fat, ugly, will never get a date. Just plain mean things because many people, especially girls, take that seriously. Some of them might take it so seriously that they commit suicide. You can have your fights with your friends, but don't keep messaging the same girl with mean and snide remarks about them. Life is already filled with cruelty, don't make it worse.

7. Never Give Away Your Password

   There is a reason why Myspace has a password, just as your E-mail, instant messenger, etc.. It is to protect your privacy from any "unwanted people." If your friends have your Myspace password, they can mess with your settings, change your password, and accidentally give it to an "unwanted person." Keep your password to yourself, to keep you Myspace settings how you want them, to have the same password, and to help keep an "unwanted person" from viewing your profile.

I hope that everyone finds these steps helpful and have a safe Myspace experience!