While I agree there are issues with myspace and their controls and verification process, I think it's important to remember the same types of things (preditors- abductions- etc.) go on in MANY other places on-line. AOL, Yahoo, MSN, Mirc, etc etc.. we have heard all of these chat programs mentioned at least 1 time in relation to "grown up's" preying on children.
The chat programs are not babysitters!!
The most important thing is to be around when your child is on-line... walk by, glance at the screen, learn the lingo (



.. etc), take notice of them minamizing screens when you walk by. Become actively involved in your childs life! Learn who they are, what they need and what may be lacking in their lives because that's what they are looking for on-line- someone they can open up to- be themselves with- feel loved!!
My advice to ALL parents with computers in their home is to learn about computers and how to locate anything... logs, history (Even if it's deleted after the child uses the computer) nothing on a computer is ever really deleted and parents need to know how to "sneak".
My boys know I can find
anything on a computer and are probably afraid to do anything wrong while on-line cuz mom will find out and the computer will be smashed into bits in the street!!