(Part 1 of three part series)

About MySpace

MySpace is a social networking website where you can meet new friends, connect with old friends and expose yourself to the online world. Users sign up and create a profile where they can upload a description of themselves, including their interests, hobbies and photos. User invite friends to join, search for friends who are already in the network and meet new people. The online community boasts 214 million users.

Age: 13/Male Hometown:LaPlace

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I play basketball and come from a wealthy family. I have three brothers and two sisters and grew up in what I consider to be a regular family. We are Baptists.

How much time do you spend on MySpace?

Three hours a day.

How often do you call people on a cell phone? Text?

A million times a day, and a million times a day.

How much time do you spend on the Internet?

About eight hours a day total.

What is good about MySpace?

It is a good way to get to know people better. You can talk to your friends, especially those you might have known a long time ago. I really like the pictures you can post, and also looking at the pictures from other people.

What is bad about MySpace?

There are a lot of bad pictures you might see. There is nudity.

Do you make friends on MySpace?

No. You have friends there, but I don’t really see it as a place you make completely new friends.

Do you develop romantic relationships on MySpace?

It depends. If a girl lives here, you might be able to do that, but not if they live far away.

Have you ever gone to meet someone in person after meeting him or her on MySpace?

No.

Do you know anyone who has been hurt by messages posted about them on MySpace?

I haven’t known of anyone, but I know it goes on.

Or hurt in other ways connected to Myspace?

Not really.

How long do you think you will be involved with Myspace?

No telling.

Age: 18/Male Hometown:LaPlace

Tell us a little bit about yourself

I’m 19 years old, and from Kenner, LA. I have been making music since I was small, when I first fell in love with music. I can’t give it up no matter what.

How much time do you spend on MySpace?

I’m on MySpace all the time, only to pursue my music career as a singer/rapper.

How often do you call people on a cell phone? Text?

I text more than I talk on the phone, only because it is for me.

How much time do you spend on the Internet?

This is the only site I really deal with.

What is good about MySpace?

The exposure for music.

What is bad about MySpace?

People stealing your password, getting on your page, and sending null and void messages.

Do you make friends on MySpace?

Yes and no, you can’t trust everyone.

Do you develop romantic relationships on MySpace?

No, I’m only on it for the music.

Have you ever gone to meet someone in person after meeting him or her on MySpace?

No, that’s all a trick, and I don’t trust it.

Do you know anyone who has been hurt by messages posted about them on MySpace?

No I don’t

Or hurt in other ways connected to MySpace?

No

How long do you think you will be involved with MySpace?

For about four years, thanks and God Bless.

Age: 16/Female Hometown:LaPlace

How much time do you spend on Myspace?

Too much! Probably about three or so hours a day. I even sneak it at school when no one is looking.

How often do you call people on a cell phone? Text?

I spend nearly as much time on the phone, and I probably do about 20 texts a day, depending on if I am at school or not

How much time do you spend on the Internet?

Almost from the minute I get home from school in the afternoon, until I go to sleep at night. Five or six hours

What is good about Myspace?

Being able to connect with friends, some you don’t see everyday (boys). It’s cool to see what other people like and what kind of music people listen too

What is bad about Myspace?

There is a lot of stuff, you can put almost whatever you want on there, and anyone can see it. I have seen friends lose friends, boyfriends over it. You just need to be careful what you say and do with it

Do you make friends on Myspace?

Yeah, lots. I find people with similar interests, mostly people from around LaPlace. I have a few friends from far off places. I used to add anyone who asked to be friends, but I have learned that it’s not always a good idea.

Do you develop romantic relationships on Myspace?

No! You don’t know who these people really are. I don’t think it’s right to make a connection with someone just based on a picture of them and what they print on their page. It could be all fake

-Have you ever gone to meet someone in person after meeting them on Myspace?

No

-Do you know anyone who has been hurt by messages posted about them on Myspace? Yeah, some people can get real mean. I was involved in a bad incident involving a former boyfriend. When we broke up he had all his friends post nasty really mean messages on my page, stuff that wasn’t even true.

-Or hurt in other ways connected to Myspace?

-How long do you think you will be involved with Myspace? I think I will keep it to stay in touch with friends when we go off to college. I have sisters and brothers who are doing that now. It is a real easy way to find and keep old friends and keep up with what they are doing.