MySpace

General Tips Tips for Teens Tips for Parents Mobile Safety Tips Safety Settings

GENERAL SAFETY TIPS

MySpace makes it easy to express yourself, connect with friends and make new ones, but who you let into your space, how you interact with them, and how you present yourself online are important things to think about when using social networking sites. Here are some common sense guidelines that you should follow when using MySpace:

Don't forget that your profile and MySpace forums are public spaces. Don't post anything you wouldn't want the world to know (e.g., your phone number, address, IM screen names, or specific whereabouts). Avoid posting anything that would make it easy for a stranger to find you, such as where you hang out every day or a picture of you in front of your office or school.
People aren't always who they say they are. Be careful about adding strangers to your friends list. It's fun to connect with new MySpace friends from all over the world, but avoid meeting people in person whom you do not fully know. If you must meet someone, do it in a public place and bring a friend or trusted adult.
Harassment, hate speech and inappropriate content should be reported. If you feel someone's behavior is inappropriate, react. Report it to MySpace or the authorities.
Don't post anything that would embarrass you later. It's easy to think that only our friends are looking at our MySpace page, but the truth is that everyone can see it. Think twice before posting a photo or information you wouldn't want your parents, potential employers, colleges or boss to see!
Don't say you're over 18 if you're not. Don't say you're younger than 18 if you're not. If MySpace customer service determines you are under 13 and pretend to be older, we will delete your profile. If customer service determines you are over 18 and pretend to be a teenager to contact underage users, we will delete your profile.

Find out more by clicking on the topics listed on the left.

GENERAL SECURITY TIPS

Following these basic security tips will help to always keep your MySpace account secure!

Make sure you create a strong password that you update regularly. Strong passwords are usually at least eight characters with a number and a special character such as an "&" or "@".
Make sure that you keep the password for your MySpace account separate from your other online accounts. If you use the same password for everything - your other accounts are also at risk if you are accidentally phished on one website! In addition, if a phisher gains access to your primary email address, he can request passwords to be sent via a "forgotten password" feature on many websites.
Don't trust websites that ask you to enter your MySpace username and password. Even if the page does not look like a fake MySpace login page, it may still be an attempt to steal your login credentials by pretending to offer you something, like a profile tracker or an e-card.
Always make sure you are on MySpace.com when you log in. If you're asked to log in to your MySpace account for a second time you may have been redirected to a phishing site.Make sure you re-type the MySpace URL and login directly.
If you receive an email asking you to verify your account and/or giving you a time limit to respond you can assume that the email is fraudulent and is part of a phishing scam. Do not respond to the email in any way.
Don't click on unknown links embedded in an email.
Install anti-virus and anti-spyware filters, and be sure to keep your operating system updated with the latest patches and firewall software.

TIPS FOR TEENS

Don't say you're older than you are. MySpace members must be 13 years of age or older. We take extra precautions to protect our younger members and we are not able to do so if you do not identify yourself as such. If MySpace customer service determines you are under 13 and pretend to be older, we will delete your profile.
MySpace is a public space. Members shouldn't post anything they wouldn't want the world to know (e.g., phone number, address, IM screen name, or specific whereabouts). Don't post anything that would make it easy for a stranger to find you, such as your local hang out. It's always fun to post pictures but remember that what you might consider a harmless picture of you and your friends in your uniforms at a school football game, is actually a map telling a stranger exactly where you go to school.
Don't post anything that could embarrass you later or expose you to danger. Please remember that MySpace is public and many people have access to what you post, including potential employers, colleges, your teachers and peers at school that you might not even know. You shouldn't post photos or info you wouldn't want adults to see or people to know about you.
Protect your privacy. Set your profile to private which lets only your friends view your profile. Users under the age of 16 are automatically assigned a private profile. Only accept friend invitations from people you know and trust.
People aren't always who they say they are. Be careful about adding strangers to your friends list. It's fun to connect with new MySpace friends from all over the world, but avoid meeting people in person whom you do not fully know. Remember that you don't really know who is on the other end of an Internet connection.
Harassment, hate speech and inappropriate content should be reported. If you encounter inappropriate behavior, inform your parents or a trusted adult and report it to MySpace or the authorities.
Don't get hooked by a phishing scam. Phishing is a method used by fraudsters to try to get your personal information, such as your username and password, by pretending to be a site you trust. If you suddenly start receiving abnormal bulletins or messages from a friend, they might have been phished. Check with them before opening any files or clicking on any links. If you think you, or a friend, are a victim of phishing, change your password immediately.
Avoid in-person meetings. Don't get together in person with someone you "meet" online unless you are certain of their actual identity. Talk it over with an adult first. Although it's still not risk-free, arrange any meetings in a public place and bring along friends, your parents, or a trusted adult.
Think before you post. What's uploaded to the net can be downloaded by anyone and passed around or posted online pretty much forever. You shouldn't post photos or info you wouldn't want adults to see or people to know about you.

TIPS FOR PARENTS

MySpace offers following tips to begin a dialogue about safe Web practices:

1. Start a Conversation

Talk to your kids about why they use MySpace, how they communicate with others, and how they represent themselves online. Recognize the importance of social networking in their daily lives, similar to that of cell phones, email, or instant messenger, and express an interest in understanding the role it plays.
Ask them why they like being online and who they hang out with online. Ask them to show you their friends, what they are listening to, and what interests them within the community.

2. Report Inappropriate Behavior

Harassment, hate speech, and inappropriate content all violate the MySpace Terms of Use and should be reported. If your kids encounter inappropriate behavior, they should report it to you, the authorities and/or MySpace, as the situation merits. To report a problem, go to Contact MySpace and select "Reporting Abuse."

3. Talk About MySpace and the Internet

MySpace, like the rest of the online world, is a public space. Members shouldn't post anything they wouldn't want the world to know (e.g., phone number, address, IM screen name, or specific whereabouts). Tell your teens they should avoid posting anything that would make it easy for a stranger to find them, such as their local hangouts.
Remind them not to post anything that could embarrass them in the future or expose them to danger. Although MySpace is public, teens sometimes forget that the information and photos they post are accessible to others.

4. Remind Teens to Be Cautious

Just as in the offline world, people aren't always who they say they are. Remind your teens to be careful about adding strangers to their friends list. It's fun to connect with new MySpace friends from all over the world, but members should be cautious when communicating with people they don't know.
Encourage teens to be themselves, but to exercise the same basic safety principles they do in the physical world. They wouldn't chat with a stranger at the mall or give someone they don't know their cell phone number. Remind them that reckless online behavior can be just as dangerous.
They should talk to you if they want to meet an online friend in person, and if you think it's safe, any meeting should take place in public, with friends or a trusted adult present.

MOBILE SAFETY TIPS

It is important to be aware and safe online at all times while you're using the Internet whether it be at school, work, home, or even on an Internet enabled mobile device such as a mobile phone, smart phone or a wireless personal digital assistant (PDA). MySpace mobile gives users with mobile devices much of the same access and features available on a desktop or laptop computer. The same basic safety rules and tips apply when you access MySpace and the Internet from mobile devices, but there are also extra precautions to be considered when using the Internet on-the-go:

Stop and think before uploading images. Some mobile devices let you upload photos straight from the camera on your phone to the Internet. Although this may be a quick and easy way to share new photos, stop and think about what you're putting up before posting. Be sure that the photos uploaded are appropriate without sexually explicit material or showing identifying characteristics that would allow someone to find you in the real world. If an image violates MySpace's terms of use, the image and the profile will be deleted.
Don't access the internet while driving. Mobile devices are great for being in contact while you're on the go, but should not be used when your full attention is required for other activities such as driving.
Don't save login and passwords on mobile devices. Given their portability, mobile phones and devices can be easily lost or stolen. If your login and password are saved on your mobile device anyone who may have possession of that device can access your MySpace profile, friends, photos, etc. If your device is lost or stolen, immediately change your MySpace password and call your carrier to deactivate the device.
Be aware of your environment. No matter where you are accessing the Internet on your mobile device, look around to see who may be watching you or trying to see what you're doing. Put your mobile device away if someone you don't know is trying to see your profile or personal information without your consent.

SAFETY SETTINGS

MySpace has developed a number of safety features and settings to protect users from unwanted contact and allow control over the privacy of personal profiles, including:

Private Profiles

Every profile has the option of being ‘private.’ This means that only you and those you have added and approved as friends can see the details of your profile, including your blog, photos, interests, etc.

To set your profile to ‘private,’ first sign in to your MySpace account. In the ‘Classic View of the profile’, click on the ‘Account Settings’ link next to your profile picture In the ‘New Home Skin’ view of the profile, click on ‘Settings’ from the Control Panel located below your profile picture. Select ‘Privacy’ from the top navigation bar. In ‘Profile Viewable By’ select ‘My Friends Only’. Now, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on ‘Save All Changes’ to ensure your updated settings have been saved.

Pre-approve Comments

The default setting for comments on MySpace profiles does not require comments to be approved prior to appearing on your profile.

To change your settings so you can approve comments before they are posted, sign in to your MySpace account. In the ‘Classic View of the profile’, click on the ‘Account Settings’ link next to your profile picture In the ‘New Home Skin’ view of the profile, click on ‘Settings’ from the Control Panel located below your profile picture. Select ‘Spam’ from the top navigation bar. In ‘Comments’ select ‘Require approval before comments are posted’. Now, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on ‘Save All Changes’ to ensure your updated settings have been saved.

Block another user

If a user that you do not know or want to interact with contacts you, you have the ability to block them from future contact. Also, if you feel this person may be a threat to yourself or others, immediately notify a trusted adult or law enforcement and report the user to MySpace through the ‘Contact MySpace’ link at the bottom of every page.

To block a user from contacting you, go to the user’s page and under their profile picture click on the ‘Block User’ link. A pop-up window will appear asking you if you are sure you want to block this user. Click ‘Ok.’ to confirm.

Turn off the 'online now' status icon

Don’t want people to know when you’re on MySpace? Turn off the ‘online now’ status icon so other users can’t see when you’re on the site and when you’re not.

To conceal your ‘online now’ status, sign in to your MySpace account. . In the ‘Classic View of the profile’, click on the ‘Account Settings’ link next to your profile picture In the ‘New Home Skin’ view of the profile, click on ‘Settings’ from the Control Panel located below your profile picture. Select ‘Privacy’ from the top navigation bar. In ‘Online Now’ un-select ‘Show People When I’m Online’. Now, scroll to the bottom of the page and click on ‘Change Settings’ to ensure your setting has been saved.

MySpace a place for friends

GENERAL SAFETY TIPS

GENERAL SECURITY TIPS

TIPS FOR TEENS

TIPS FOR PARENTS

MOBILE SAFETY TIPS

SAFETY SETTINGS