Middle school officials say popular Web site is a place where
rumors about students
– and sometimes the students themselves – go wild
Gilroy – The slogan calls it “a place for friends,” but some young users of MySpace.com are discovering the Web site’s dark side – a place where gangsters, wannabe pornstars and bullies harass other members. The social networking Web site prohibits individuals younger than 14 from joining, and has rules against providing sensitive material such as last names or promoting threatening or illegal activities. However, school administrators are finding that students are lying about their age and using the site as a method for cyber harassment.
“It is causing us some pain … We’ve had issues here at South Valley (Middle School) and I’ve talked to other administrators and it seems to be something that’s kind of exploding,” said Principal John Perales. “I’ve seen pictures of girls that are naked, gang symbols … we’ve seen activity at midnight, 11pm on weekends and weekdays … Most of what I’m seeing is rumors, and in some cases threats.”
The problem peaked in November, Perales said, where students came forward and told administrators they were upset over rumors other students were posting online. School officials are trying to communicate with parents through newsletters and Parent Club meetings about their concerns about MySpace.com and similar Web sites and student use.
A search of the site revealed dozens of Web pages with student profiles – some containing scantily clad teenage girls and gang symbols.
According to Perales, the dollar sign is a symbol Norteño gang members use to put down Sureño members – and whether students know or not, the symbol is everywhere.
“A lot of these girls will put their picture up there and we live in a society where bad things happen … and that’s a worry of mine – not just kids (harassing) kids, but kids and wackos,” he said. “I’m not advocating against the site, but be aware. I think the key is just being aware.”
But many students argue the Web site is a safe and fun way to get to know their classmates. Others reason that talking on the Internet with friends is cheaper than using telephone.
“All the parents say it’s bad, but there’s nothing bad about it,” said 13-year-old Amber, a seventh-grader at SVMS. “It’s a way to talk to your friends. My dad has threatened to take it away, but you have to have the password to do it.”
Most students appeared to have positive experiences using MySpace.com and similar Internet chat systems, chatting with friends, listening to music and playing games such as pool and cards.
“I use it to look at other people’s profiles and see if I know them,” said Lidia, 13. “I don’t really talk – I just look. I like that you can meet new people.”
Despite the positive feedback, all were aware of the dangers.
Amidst giggles and red faces, students admitted that sometimes Instant Messaging results in rumors spreading and hurt feelings. Several spoke of hearing cases on the news where kids met people they met online only to discover the person was not who they said they were.
“I heard three people were killed on it. They gave out their addresses and people found out where they lived,” said seventh-grader Ashley. “People should be careful not to give out their phone number and personal information.”
All of the students with accounts were underage. All knew they were not technically supposed to be on the MySpace.com.
“Most of the kids here have an account even though you have to be 14,” said Jessica, 12. “I’m not allowed to have a picture on MySpace – only an icon – my mother is paranoid about it.”
A section titled safety tips on MySpace explicitly states: “Parents should know that no one under the age of fourteen is allowed to use our site … If you’re under 14, MySpace is not the place for you. Go away.” Individuals who come across underage users are asked to report the members so their profiles can be eliminated from the site.
MySpace.com lists the activities prohibited, but has a disclaimer citing that it is “not responsible for the conduct, whether online or off-line, of any user of the Web site or member of the service.” They provide a link for parents to visit to learn more about protecting their children from online dangers.
For South Valley staff, parental cooperation is necessary to keep the problems at bay.
“There’s no way we can be successful without the home meeting us halfway,” Perales explained.” You’ve got to know what your kid’s doing. Period. That’s why you’re the adult. It seems like the kids are in charge and it can’t be that way. It’s for their safety.”
Jeanette Bischoff, the parent of two teenage boys who have accounts with MySpace, refers to the site as, “My enemy.”
“You never know who they’re talking to,” she said. “They know how to get around it, but without their password you never know what they’re (doing). I feel a lack of control.”
She went on the Web site to find out what it was all about, but found the site difficult to navigate without an account or her children’s passwords.
After one of her children was hurt by what was written by another user of the site, she sat down and had a “big talk,” about chatting online.
“Communicating is key … even if they’re rolling their eyes at you,” Bischoff said. “Get their screename and see what’s on it. I wonder what kids would think if they knew their parents had profiles.”
The scenario is not farfetched.
Gilroy High School Assistant Principal Greg Camacho-Light created an account last year to monitor the site after derogatory statements about the school’s staff were rumored to appear on user profiles.
And what he found was appalling.
“There I was creating a false person, something bad people do, so I could be in more places (to monitor activity,)” he said. “There’s just about anything you want to see on there … it is the Internet so if you can think of anything on the Internet, it’s on the Web site.”
After Thanksgiving, once he got wind that students were using MySpace from the library, GHS Principal James Maxwell had access to the site blocked on campus.
“We had a problem at my last school,” he explained. “It’s everything from kids that turn themselves practically into porn stars .. to gang stuff.”
Parents were coming to the school and wanting their students removed form certain classes because their child felt threatened, he explained.
“We can’t patrol the Internet at home,” he said.
School officials recommend students contact the police if they are feeling threatened by others online.
“It is unfortunately used as a tool for harassment,” Camacho-Light said. “I believe it’s not even legal in a sense on MySpace. But it expands so fast that it’s almost impossible to monitor … MySpace is not a safe place and that worries me. I find MySpace to be a scary place.”
School officials recommend parents keep computers outside their children’s bedrooms and use the parental settings to limit access.
While GHS has not had any gang-related issues surface from students threatening each other online, between three and four students come forward every year from harassment, Camacho-Light said.
They come forward when it gets to the point where they feel physically threatened.
“It takes a lot to come forward,” he said. “If three to four have come to that level, I’m sure there are many many more out there we don’t know about.”
He believes the time has come for dialogue about students using the Internet in this manner.
“I can get on there saying it’s me or you – the potential of this becoming more of a problem is great,” he said. “I think it has the potential of being very harmful for our children.”
