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Users are comfortable with Web community site, but report using caution in sharing personal information
By Steve Moyer
Nevada Daily Mail
A group of friends get together and talk about nothing and everything. Someone is planning a trip, so they try to find someone from the area they plan to visit in an effort to find out where all the local spots are. It's all casual and low-key, no one feels pressured and if someone does go beyond the bounds of commonly accepted behavior, it isn't hard to make sure they don't bother you again.
Where might you find this gathering place? Is it a bar? A church basement? A local youth center? No, it's online at one of the communities that have been built on the Web. Places such as MySpace.com, Facebook.com, High Five and others are where the younger generations are hanging out now.
For some, such as Dangerous Doug Harper, it is a way to stay in touch with people he knows who aren't in the immediate area, as well as local friends.
"I really love the whole Myspace world. It has been a great advantage for me to be able to connect with a bunch of people that I don't see on a day-to-day basis, and also a great way to stay in touch with work contacts and friends when I'm out of town, too," Harper said. "As a musician, I want people to be able to contact me and hear my music, so I post all of my live shows on there and put up my music, so people can hear it."
Another user, Tanya, says she likes the ease of meeting people and keeping in touch with friends.
"To meet people or to find old friends that you have lost contact with or even to chat with existing friends," Tanya said. "With busy schedules it just seems easier to keep in touch online than in person. So, you can talk to your friends on a regular basis without having to make time. And they don't have to be online for you to leave them a comment letting them know you were there."
Amanda David said she's met some great new friends on MySpace and likes the fact you can find people who share your interests.
"I have met some great new friends from being on MySpace and have gotten to know local friends better," David said. "It seems, anymore, that everyone is a member of MySpace, so it's easy to find out about someone, at least in a small sense."
Security is an issue with many people and there are ways to prevent unwanted attention. Many of the users contacted for this article said they are pro-active in keeping their online information safe and inaccessible to cyber-stalkers.
"Many people are wary of posting their information online due to safety reasons," David said. "Especially for their children. I'm sure you have seen on the news about the kids or teens that have been attacked from predators online. This is why you do not post any personal information about yourself (such as your address, the school you attend, etc.) I feel all right posting what little information I have on there because MySpace allows you to set your profile to 'private,' where no one can see anything without adding you as a friend, and you can deny their request to add you."
Tanya said she didn't list any information that stalkers could use.
"I don't post any information that I feel is threatening in any way to myself," Tanya said.
Harper said he only posts information on the site that he doesn't mind "the whole world seeing" online and uses private messages to friends.
"I really feel safe on MySpace, because you can add and reject people if you know them or not," Harper said. "The biggest problem I have is people trying to sell me something on there. In one click of 'block sender' they can no longer try and contact me -- problem solved. I also make it a point to only post things that would be OK for the whole world to know.
If I want to post something private I send it directly to one of my contacts, in a private message. I do welcome anyone to visit my MySpace at www.myspace.com/dangerousdougharper."
One danger of MyApace and other communities is the addictive nature of such online communities.
"However, using Myspace can become very addictive," David said. "It's a lot of fun and as I said before, a great way to keep in touch with old friends, and make new ones."
Tanya said she had been addicted to it since she joined.
"It is very addicting and I have been addicted since the day I created mine," Tanya said.