Resources for Parents

MySpace is a very popular online community.  Profiles for kids under 13 are supposed to remain private, however, there's no real age verification so many kids simply lie about their age.  Things considered inappropriate at MySpace are nude and pornographic images and will be removed if found, however, moderators rarely find these unless someone reports it.  Text and messages are not filtered for any content and even though removed if a complain is logged violent content also abounds.

Much like MySpace underage profiles are supposed to be private, but like MySpace a simple change in date of birth, that's not verified in any way, will allow any person to access younger or older people's profiles.  An especially dangerous feature is that Bebo makes people sign up for a school to create an account.  This unlike MySpace which allows you to hide your location provides potential child sex offenders the exact school with which a potential victim attends.  Like MySpace Bebo has a policy against nude images, violent or gang images, and violent content, however, like MySpace it doesn't seem to provide for provocative images (bathing suits, revealing clothing), some from under aged kids, and nothing is done about it unless a complaint is logged.

More popular with College aged kids, it's the up and coming social site.  Is does require a school email address in order to get an account that gives you automatic access to all profiles from a school, however, like Bebo and MySpace it's easy to fake stuff and get access to many more profiles.