Myspace...Catering to a Frighteningly Young Population

It seems that everyone throughout the United States, and many other parts of the globe for that matter, have heard of the commotion surrounding networking websites such as Facebook and Myspace. Most of these are currently aimed at teens and young adults; Facebook, I believe, was even started as a networking site for college students. Over the past few years, though, we've seen a trend of younger and younger members on these sites. Though there is a minimum age of 14 (?) on Myspace, I've seen children, and yes, it is correct to call them that, as young as 12 on the site. This would be acceptable, except for the content that they are being exposed to and even posting themselves.

For those unfamiliar to Myspace, let me explain. Upon creating an account, a user is able to designate a picture that becomes displayed on their profile, which is available to most users and displayed next to comments that they post, friend requests that they extend, and other things of the sort. There is also a section of each user's profile that is devoted to general pictures, where the user is given the opportunity to post almost unlimited photos and albums for their friends' (and strangers') viewing pleasure.

Many of these photos depict days at the beach, or innocent sleepovers with friends, but it is the increasing number of seductive and sexual photographs among the younger set that is especially frightening. I've seen pictures of girls younger than my 8th grade neighbor laid out in only their underwear while pouting for the camera, and headshots of heavily made-up thirteen year olds with pounds of eyeliner, mascara, blush, and foundation. And its not only the girls. You can hardly browse the site without catching a glimpse of a boy holding his shirt up to display bony ribs and a pre-puberty, hairless stomach in the mirror for the camera. It's not just the media that's exploiting today's children; they're doing it to themsleves. It's the mindset that 'sex sells' and that a sexual image is also an attractive one that are behind this phenomenon. It's also the fact that children are being thrust into adult situations earlier and earlier as the years go by. These factors make the kids want to look and act older, and the older that they look and act, the more attention they get from the more mature set. This, in turn, causes unneccesary pressures and can have the effect of robbing these children of their childhoods.

I suppose that if we, as their older sisters and brothers and mothers and fathers, taught them that they should be true to themselves and what they have to offer on the inside, then they wouldn't be so quick to offer it up on the outside. It's just that these children are growing up into teenagers, and the abuse of themselves is continuing. Many people don't realize that if it's on the internet, it's available to everyone. Parents and teachers and police and principals are all able to see these images, and the reprocussions can be great. So, if you can, talk to your little brother or sister or cousin or whoever. If you don't, one day you might log on and see their image on the screen.