Addiction to social networks such as Myspace and Facebook has become one of the worlds biggest problems amongst the younger generation.  Although the majority of people who use these social networks are young, there are many adults who use these sites as well.  On average people spend about two and half hours a day on facebook and around an hour and half on myspace.  (http://ad-supported-music.blogspot.com/2007/11/time-spent-on-facebook-limits.html) The addiction to these social networks has people like Steve Lyons, a student of St. Rose, commenting “everytime I go on a computer, whether it is my own computer or not, I feel a need to check my Facebook”. 

Myspace started up on October 16,  1999. Facebook was created in March 2004.  Myspace has around 75 millions users and facebook has around 55 million users.  Privacy is a main concern with both these websites because people want to feel that the information they put on these sites are secure.  On facebook the user has complete control over its privacy policy.  A facebook user is able to block out anyone they do not want looking at their information. Although Myspace does have similar privacy polices, it is much easier for hackers to gain access to peoples personal profiles.  There is actually a site called “Fake your Space” where people can hire hackers to gain access to your personal site.

Online predators is a major factor when joining a social network.  Especially for younger members, it is very important to make sure your information is safe.  Children today, especially on Myspace do or say things they normally would not say in real life.  They feel that they are in a secure area where they are able to say whatever they want to whoever.  “According to the “Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported more than 2,600 incidents of adults using the web to target children online in order to engage in sexual activity.” (http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=1463).

Another problem with many of these social networks is the idea of “bullying”.  I have seen first hand what these social networks allow bullies to do to certain people who are not well liked.  In my high school a bunch of guys created a group called “Gavin Sucks” so that they could humilate him and let everyone on the web see it. It is sad that bullies would use these social networks in order to degrate another human being and make sure everyone can witness it.

Recently a young female committed suicide over a myspace relationship.  She had grown attached to a so called good looking sixteen year old male.  When this sixteen year old male decided to end the relationship the girl hanged herself in her room.  Police then found out that, this was another case of idenity fraud and that this sixteen year old male was really an older women living on the same street.  Identity fraud is a very common problem with social networks today because it is very hard to catch people when they are making up information. 

Since we are living in a world where almost half the nation has a certain social network, employers have now mad accounts and created ways to check certain peoples social network accounts.  This is why it is very important that people should think before they put anything on the web.  “More than 1,700 public employees have been sacked or disciplined for internet or email misuse in the past three years.” (http://alwaysnewmistakes.wordpress.com/2007/11/15/are-social-networks-putting-us-in-danger/)

Facebook has around 85% college students, where Myspace is made up more of American high school students.  Facebook was created so that students in college would be able to stay connected through there college’s network.  Myspace was more an area where anyone could go and socialize.  To join facebook you have to be a member of the 30,000 recognized schools, colleges, universities, companies, etc and have a valid e-mail address.

I believe that social networks have a lot to offer but can be taken advantage easily by people who like to destroy all the good things that come from it.  Being that I was once a Myspace user and now a Facebook user, I feel that Facebook is a more protected and safer site.  Joining a social network is a risk to begin with but people have to make sure they realize what information they are putting out there.