MySpace Study Offers Glimpse Into Risky Teen Behaviors
Adults raised under the “don’t kiss and tell” school of thought would never consider posting tales of their sexual exploits online nor would they consider revealing their illicit drug use or acts of violence. Their children, however, enjoy a heightened sense of freedom to discuss such things so researchers at the University of Washington turned to the very popular MySpace online social network to see what teenagers are posting about themselves. This glimpse into teen life shows these are common topics, with more than half of all profiles under study revealing tales of risky teen behaviors.
Megan A. Moreno, MD, and her colleagues published the findings of their online study in the January 2009 issue of the ‘Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.’ She says about 90% of today’s teenagers have internet access, most of them say they access it every day, and online social communities seem to be particularly popular with teens.
While critics may argue that data derived from self reporting may not be as accurate as medical science prefers, Moreno’s study nevertheless offers a means of monitoring teenage behaviors that was not available before the advent of the internet. A better understanding of how teenagers use social networking sites may help improve communications between teenagers and their parents and pediatricians and better identify the most at-risk teenagers.
Moreno’s research team evaluated the profiles of 500 18-year-olds on the MySpace website, where the individual teenager provided pertinent demographic data - age, gender, ethnicity, home state, sexual orientation, and status of relationship - as well as postings describing their participation in church, school, and sports functions and their sexual encounters, substance abuse, and acts of violence. None of the teenagers were contacted so their profiles and postings remained candid and no other social networks, other than MySpace, were analyzed. The research team discovered:
- 54% of the profiles mentioned sexual activity, violence, or substance abuse.
- Substance abuse was the most-often referenced risky behavior (41%) while 24% mentioned sexual activity and 14% reported violence.
- Males are more likely to report acts of violence than females.
- Females are more likely to post accounts of their sexual encounters.
- “Straight” teens were less likely to report sexual escapades than those of other sexual orientation.
- Teenagers involved with church or other religion-based organizations were less likely to report risky behaviors, as were those involved with sports or hobbies.
The research team acknowledges the likelihood that teens posting events of a risky nature are probably more inclined to risky behaviors in the first place than teens who may engage in similar activities but do not publish them on the internet. They are also likely to be less aware of the attention such posts draw from sexual predators, a situation unintended but with the potential for devastating effect.
In addition to the very real and present danger these intimate posts generate, they may also pose problems for these teens later in life, when potential employers conduct pre-employment background checks or evaluate them for promotion.
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People worry about steep food costs and obesity, though, they spend less on ‘back to school ‘ , citing recession. People criticize the car manufacturers for their inferior energy efficiency, while the articles over the future renewable energy and energy- efficient autos can’t be easily found on the the front page. People are concerned about the unhealthy diets, however, they ignore the toxic environments on the internet in the name of freedom. War calls for more substance abuses, internet porns, violences, too much gaming to paralyze the conscience, rationality. Teens, youths are in dire need of their parents’ care and love above food, which lead them to use internet for the sound informations, education, just as the new president mentioned. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION !
Study says kids should not show “bad” behavior on myspace because it can be checked by colleges. This is not fully true. A myspace user controls the content, access to and longevity of the content. Unlike news, myspace content is gone once deleted by the user. A user can remove any words or photos.
The user controls access. Myspaces can be private, so only “friends” have access. Even on a public myspace, some features are only open to “friends.” A friend request is approved/denied by the user and a friend can always be deleted. ONLY a friend can see the Comments on the bulletin board, receive and send messages, post a Comment, or see friend-only photos.
A user can delete the whole page anytime.
There is NO way to send an email to a myspace user, unless the user posts an address. Only a Friend can send a message on myspace. The researcher misused Myspace, which is against the Terms of Service and a crime.
The study is flawed. If I got a myspace message from a busybody, I would assume I was being stalked. The behavior is changed not by induced common sense, but for fear of the weird “friend.”
These myspace users did not give KNOWING CONSENT to participate as HUMAN SUBJECTS in this study, making this unethical research.
RESPECTING THE PRIVACY OF OTHERS IN A PUBLIC SPACE is common decency. We ignore conversations and let people be. DO the same with myspaces. Do not be a voyeur, pervert, or busybody. RESPECT OTHERS, especially KIDS.
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Hey, your post answered a question one of my members had on my blog.
You know, everyone might think that this is a silly idea, but trust me, if this Influenza does go the distance and really start killing. Just imagine how NOT silly it will be.
In South Africa and other African countries, imagine how fast it would kill a township where people live in 2m by 2m houses(Shacks). and the shacks are less than a meter apart.
No medicine to help them.
I think right now, its a little over the top, but in time, it will be no joke.
Gregory
~ The Swine Flu Symptoms Blog