Moronic MySpace Safety Tips
The morons at Ten News have put to air a story about MySpace taking some token PR steps to increase the safety of kids on their service. Basically it was a fluff-piece for MySpace, helping them address the PR concerns which have been plaguing them precisely because mainstream media has blown everything out of proportion in the first place.
Anyway, at the conclusion of this story, they displayed a set of safety tips which they encouraged MySpace users to adopt for peace of mind. It really underscores how clueless these people are about the reality of online safety.
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Set profile to private
Yes, that's right, to make effective use of this social networking website, make it so nobody can see your page.
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Don't reveal personal details
Here's a new one. This one is almost legitimate, except that you've already set it so nobody can see your page, so what's the problem with putting your phone number on it?
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Conceal "online now" status
When using the world's biggest social network, don't let anyone know you're there! Social sites are more fun when people wonder why you're not there.
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Block other users
If by chance, with your profile and online status hidden, someone happens to still discover that you exist, block them immediately!
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Only accept known friends
What a horror it would be to converse with people you've never met in person. How awful it would be for you to engage in a discussion with people in other countries. Clearly the Internet exists only for communication with your neighbours. To be safe, you should avoid other cultures at all costs!
They're stupid. There's nothing in these tips which helps kids make effective use of the service safely. The biggest threat to youth safety online is their overwhelming desire to expose themselves as much as possible. These tips are all about unplugging the PC, which ensures they'll be ignored.
Instead of placating terminally ignorant parents, they should be teaching kids how to stay anonymous while exposing their personality. After all, it's only the stalkers who care what your phone number is, or which school you attend. None of that helps anyone get to know you, so refusing to share that kind of information doesn't detract from the experience. That's the message to be drumming into them.
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Wait, they are talking about MySpace, for cryin’ out loud. That should have given you a hint. :-)
I know, I know… I have unreasonable and old-fashioned expectations that news should actually relate to journalism in some way.
My mistake clearly :) thanks for your comment.
MILO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You ARE alive… wow….
SO do you use yahoo or msn these days, or still only skype??
Hey Bleachy, glad you looked me up, mate…. check out this post for a brief explanation… it’s my first, since my return.
Sorry for just dropping off the earth.
I do have WLM/MSN these days, address is ‘milorad at gmail dot com’
ohhhhhh my goodness *wipes tears from eyes* Great post. How I’ve missed your acerbic wit!!
Haha I swear I was never gonna speak to you again if you re-emerged on the Internet! lol. But I have to say cyberspace is pretty damn bland without you.
Hope you is okay Milo :)
(Ironically I’ve left my myspace link with this post! hehe. Godforsaken place)
oh shyte, I didn’t even link it correctly! Some things dont change.
Haha thanks…
I spent last night explaining myself to Bleachy, hit me up on MSN/WLM and I’ll tell you the story. I’m really glad you stopped in, I missed you guys.
btw, Fixed the link :)
aww thanks Milo.
Milo we really did miss you a hell of a lot :(
Since you’ve been gone I’ve been married and divorced twice, given birth to triplets and been dragged out by Bleachy on no less than 5 occasions to Young Divas and/or Guy Sebastian gigs. ahh. yes this part is true.
I dont get on WLM much these days, the 10-12 year olds put me off >.<
So…anyhow would this be a good thread to ask you what you think of…FACEBOOK??! (lol, I think I can anticipate…)
LOL seems you’ve had a good time…
I’m too old and grumpy for facebook… but I should make myself an account anyway, to go with my newly-created MySpace mockery.
I’ve sent you an email so we can discuss at length. With any luck the address you provided here actually leads to you :)
Cheers.
omg thats hilarious!! I love the way you make it verify, “you must enter Milorad Ivovic’s surname to confirm you know this person”, before you can friend add! lol.
The email address is indeed my student one, so I shall pop over and check it this morning,
thanks Milo :)
hello again - I didnt get your email. maybe I made a typo with the numbers. the hotmail one above *points up* is a good one; cheers.
Just get on msn beej!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
hehe!!
although in fact I WAS on MSN for months, and nobody cared then!! =P
heh, mail sent you spammers!
I hope the mail said “JUST GET ON MSN BEEJAY!!!”
lol. I did eventually get your first email as well Milo - some “moronic” girl from my Uni assignment group had sent me a whole stack of PDF files (instead of just sending the link, duh) which filled up the entire contents of my Uni mail box. Once I deleted it some new emails appeared including yours. I replied to your other one too.
And we just love spamming your blog dont we Bleachy!! hehe. I feel I have new meaning in life =p
…have a great weekend