How to Make a Parent-Approved MySpace Profile

Myspace and other social networking sites offer kids a way to share information and stay in touch. Parents want to make sure kids are safe when they're online. You can help ease your parents' concerns my making a Myspace profile that falls within their guidelines.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Give your parents your Myspace username and password. Your parents are far more likely to trust you if you're open about what you're doing rather than hiding it from them.
2. Agree on a set of guidelines with your parents. Negotiate until everyone is comfortable, then stick to your agreement.
3. Set your user profile to private. By taking this step, only your friends can view your Myspace page. This keeps you safer and making your parents more comfortable.
4. Be careful about what information you provide publicly. You can be tracked down by your school, athletic team names and state. It's important that you not fill out all of the information, and that you're careful about referencing it in casual conversations.

Tips & Warnings

• Ask your parents for a trial run if they're skeptical about Myspace. Show them that you can be trusted with your Myspace profile.
• Don't post anything that you wouldn't say in front of your parents, as there's a good chance they'll read it anyway. Let their supervision be a reminder that you should always be respectful.