| September
2007
MySpace Is Still Dangerous
It’s All About Meeting People
Teens just want to meet new people. They want to find out
information about others and have more friends. So, they design
a website on MySpace or Facebook and wait for visitors. Isn’t
it great meeting all these new people?
Predators
What many forget is that predators want to make new friends,
too. They are looking for as many new and innocent youth
as possible to increase their chances for finding new victims.
Facebook
This website is very popular with college students. Facebook
says that it will only accept individuals to the site that
have valid college email addresses. Outsiders are blocked
from the site and this helps but it is not completely safe.
Unfortunately, MySpace does not do this.
MySpace has now mandated that the ages be given when individuals
post to the site but MySpace does not monitor if the ages
are accurate. This is a feeble attempt for protection, at
best.
Easy Access to Information
Information is quite easy to obtain even if a teen is careful
to never give out personal information. “Jim”
(age 32) is casually talking to a 14-year-old who thinks
he is 16-years-old and living in another state.
He: “So, what are you going to do tomorrow?”
She: “Basketball game. Home game.”
He: “What’s your mascot?”
She: “The Panthers….grrrr.” LOL
He: “You must go to a big school.”
She: “Nope. The smallest in the state, actually.”
Next Step
Predator merely needs to explore small schools in the state
that have a Panther mascot. He just has to ask a few more
questions the next night.
He: “How was the basketball game?”
She: “Great! We won 72-53. I have a sore throat from
yelling all night!!!”
He: “Are you a cheerleader?”
She: “Yep. I’m the smallest one on the squad
so they put me on top for formations.”
Almost There
Predator now looks at sporting scores on the internet. He
easily finds the school based on the scores. He can now
go to the school website and get the name of the town. Chances
are good that there are pictures of sporting events with
cheerleaders in the background. He just needs to look for
the smallest one.
If the school does not post pictures, he can call the school
and ask when the next basketball game is, attend the game,
leave with the crowd, wait for the cheerleaders to leave,
and follow her home. He now knows where she lives.
10:30 p.m.
Girl checks her messages before retiring. Her friend is
on. Of course, she thinks he is two states away.
He: “What did you do tonight?”
She: “Basketball game. We won again.”
He: “Bet your mom and dad had fun watching.”
She: “Dad doesn’t live with us anymore and mom
works nights.”
Predator now knows where she lives and that she is alone
tonight.
False Security
Unknowingly, the girl has given the predator all the information
he needs. She has no idea he lives only a few miles away.
It is just a matter of time until he makes his move for
an assault.
Mrs. Pytel
K-8 Counselor
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