Teens Sharing Too Much Informatin Online

Myspace.com is linked to crimes across the country ranging from a Columbine like plot to several sexual assaults. Many Midland Empire teens say they`re safely socializing but some are unknowingly releasing dangerous information. Fifteen year Old Lorraine Andrew says Myspace is addicting. Andrew said, "You always want to see if you have a message." Now days social teens click to chat intead of making a phone call. Some of their online friends may not be who they say they are and teens are collecting them by the hundreds. St. Joseph Police Department Electronic Crimes Detective Fritz Adams said, "It puts them in contact with people who are not who or what they appear to be and may have some motives beyond just wanting to chat." Andrew`s profile is plain compared to her peers. Andrew said, "I just have my name and my hometown but even that might be too much but it`s on there." "I only talk to about 30 friends online because I use it for the artist profiles because I like listening to music on there." Some of her friends however, offer up pretty personal information. Andrew said, "A lot of my friends blog. It`s like a diary entry, you can write what you did that day, you can write pretty much anything." They also fill out surveys about everything from their favorite food to what they look for in the opposite sex. Detectives say what seems like harmless information can be used by a pedophile can to gain a teens trust and friendship. Adams said, "They`ll put the clues together to figure out who you are and where your at. It`s amazing what you can figure out by looking at Myspace sites or other networking sites." The website`s new regulations keep anyone over 18 from viewing a young users profile unless the teen accepts them as their friend but the website doesn`t have a way to check if users are really the age they claim to be. So a pedophile could sign up as a 15 year-old and chat with as many under age users as they wanted. Detective Adams says parents must keep tabs on their teens use. Lorraine`s mom Pam said, "I thought it was pretty cool I didn`t have a computer when I was her age. I think it`s a good way for them to express themselves." Lorraine`s mom says her daughter invited her to check out her profile. Pam said, "We`re really close. I know she doesn`t tell me everything but she tells me a lot. I said even if they say their your age and from here you shouldn`t talk to those people." The Andrew`s have decided that if Lorraine you hasn`t met someone or gone to school with them she won`t accept them as an online friend. Pam says a conversation with her daughter instead of a lecture helps them stay connected despite their technical disconnect. Flters can be another line of defense for parents. The programs block certain sites and phrases. You can purchase them anywhere computers or sold.