5 girls raped by sexual predators on MySpace. Thoughts?
MySpace has been sued by the families of 5 girls (in New York, Texas, Pennsylvania & South Carolina) who claim MySpace failed to protect their minor children from adult members that are sexual predators.
All five girls were 14-15 at the time they were assaulted.
In each case, the attackers talked the girls into meeting them and then sexually assaulted them. Four of the five girls (two were sisters) were given alcohol, drugs - or both - and one girl was also kidnapped.
Six adult males were arrested. Two pleaded guilty and are serving time. The others are awaiting trial. The male accused in Pennsylvania is awaiting trial on 12 charges of unlawful sexual conduct with a minor.
- Police say dozens of MySpace teens have been molested, some murdered, by people who first contacted them through the site.
- Lawyers for the families say that MySpace committed fraud and was reckless by marketing the site as “safe.”
MySpace is defending itself by pointing to family responsibility.
What do YOU think?
P.S. Here’s links if you want to read more of the details;
http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6151096.html?tag=nl
http://www.itnews.com.au/newsstory.aspx?CIaNID=44573
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/technologynews/view/253395/1/.html
adorablay said,
February 6, 2007 at 12:31 pm
Family responsiblity is a huge part of all of this. What people have to understand is that it isn’t just MySpace… there are thousands of sites out there where the teen could sign up and potentially have the same thing happen… it’s just that MySpace is the popular one. There is no way to control all those sites (or control the internet) SO then it is the parents responsiblity to shelter their child. It is possible! There are locks for computers (parental setting for windows), also… if your child is to get a myspace account, supervise them and make sure the accound is “Friends Only” which means not everyone can view the page… and be vigilant about checking their account. I know privacy is an issue but make ground rules that MySpace should not be a diary that you don’t want your parents to read because if I had a child I would make sure they knew I was checking on the page. If they don’t agree with that… no myspace page (and more then likely no internet without supervision). Parents need to realize that there is a new enemy in this coming of age : THE INTERNET. And it won’t be going away anytime soon. Action must be taken… be creative and think of ideas on how to get around the issues at hand… I am sure there are many ways to keep your child safe from internet preditors.
LindaC said,
February 6, 2007 at 12:38 pm
I agree. When my daughter was that age, she was not allowed “privacy” online. I had all her passwords and we shared an email address. I sat and read a book in the same room when she was online. She knew I could see the screen anytime I wanted to. I didn’t stare at it, but there was nothing hidden from me. I told her that it’s not about whether I trust HER. That isn’t even the issue. The issue is – do I think a 40+ pedophile is smarter than a 14 year old girl? You bet. That’s who I don’t trust.
Plus, I always made sure I knew more about the computer than she did. I can go onto anyone’s computer and show them where they’ve been, even if they delete the history. Parents need to know stuff like that if they want to protect their kids.
adorablay said,
February 6, 2007 at 1:05 pm
Exactly! Your parenting is exactly what you SHOULD do! You should teach a course to parents about it (or maybe a book?!?! hehe). Yeah, honestly as much as the child may hate it at the time, they will end up thanking you when they are old enough to undertand. I went through quite a bit of a tight leash growing up with my grandparents because they had such old fashioned views… but in the end I know it did me right… it did, however, take me quite awhile to accept that it did me good.
LindaC said,
February 6, 2007 at 1:31 pm
LOL. “or maybe a book?!?! hehe” — LOL. So funny. I swear when I’m done, you get an autographed copy free. And you’re right again. When my daughter turned 21 and moved out, she said she appreciated how I parented her. But it took a few years for her to see that.
adorablay said,
February 6, 2007 at 3:18 pm
That gives me even MORE motivation to bug you every week about writing it!
icedmocha said,
February 6, 2007 at 4:40 pm
I really don’t think MySpace can/should be held responsible. How in the world could they possibly police this? Parents must be aware of what their kids are doing online. I’m not saying anything new – the comments that are already here pretty much cover it – but that’s where the responsibility lies: parents. I monitor my kids’ use of MySpace, etc. They don’t like it, but they live with it.
adorablay said,
February 6, 2007 at 4:43 pm
See, I am not a parent yet and I kinda always wondered what different parents thought on the subject. It’s nice to hear that both of you think rationally on the subject, it just proves your good parenting style. Kudos to you both!
hydia reinier said,
April 18, 2007 at 8:48 am
i think that it is the parents responcibility if they were realy concerned they would not let there child on myspace.