Social Networking Websites

All right . . . enough of the heavy stuff, this debate does not require deep, philosophical opinions or logical arguments. It's a topic that we're all familiar with, and I'm sure everyone here can relate to. The topic is social networking. The issue is whether such websites are appropriate for teens. Just drop a reply if you wish to opine.

Originally Posted by Sherry Turkle, sociologist

In cyberspace, we are learning to live in virtual worlds. We may find ourselves alone as we navigate virtual oceans, unravel virtual mysteries and engineer virtual skyscrapers. But increasingly, when we step through the looking glass, other people are there as well.

Social Networking . . . what is that? Think MySpace and Friendster. With over 79 million users, including over half of all internet users ages 15-20, MySpace is ranked 5th most-visited website by Alexia Internet, Inc. Registration is free. Members can put whatever they want in their profiles. They can add pictures of themselves, post messages for other people to read, and compile lists of their favorite things and interests. Members also can link their profiles to those of other members. In the world of social networking websites, it is not unusual for users to accumulate hundreds, even thousands, of online "friends"--some of whom they may know from school or another social setting, and others whom they may have never actually spoken to or met face-to-face. Pretty cool, right? But wait . . .

Social networking sites like MySpace are a sexual predator's dream. All those young girls posting pictures of themselves in revealing outfits or compromising positions . . . I'm sure they realize that their websites can be accessed by anyone with an internet connection. So this begs the question, are teenagers mature enough to handle the potential dangers of social networking sites? Should their access to such sites be limited, or completely restricted? Are teens too naive? Too immature? Too trusting? And another thing, can social networking sites (MySpace, Xanga, classmates.com, Friendster, etc.) become an addiction? It's not real social interaction, is it? Who knows what kind of effects too much MySpace could have on a teen's social development?

[Fearless™]

I voted yes <<
It is a place for teens to build up friendships, etc...
We all mature at different ages, so it wouldn't be fair not to have those websites just because a few are stupid enough to post naked pics of themselves...
because at the end, it is not the websites' fault that teens get molested or w/e << it is the teenager's fault.