NCJ Number
222553
Journal
Journal of Adolescence Volume: 31 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2008 Pages: 125-146
Date Published
February 2008
Length
22 pages
Annotation
Based on a content analysis, this study examined the type of information youth are publicly posting on MySpace, an online social networking site used by many youth that has received criticism as increasing the risk of youths' exposure to the tactics of sexual predators who access the Web site to entice victims.
Abstract
A random, representative sampling of a universe of approximately 100 million MySpace profile pages led researchers to conclude that the risky disclosure of personal information on MySpace may not be as widespread as many assume and that the overwhelming majority of adolescents are using the Web site responsibly and safely. The study found that 8.8 percent of the profile pages revealed the person's full name; 57 percent included a picture; 27.8 percent listed their school; and 0.3 percent provided their telephone number. These results, although suggesting that minimum revealing personal information is provided, show that sufficient information is provided by some MySpace participants for them to be located offline and potentially victimized. One limitation of the study was that the content analysis had no way of determining whether the information presented on the profile page was accurate. The authors recommend that parents become engaged in monitoring the online activities of their children, specifically the information they provide about themselves on any Web site that could involve interaction with other users who are not personally known to the youth offline. The study was conducted in the summer of 2006. 3 tables, 74 references and appendix