MySpace.com – a social-networking Web site Popularity is soaring Over 80 million users Innocent & not-so-innocent children Pedophiles, rapists, immoral teens, & human debris

Want our children to avoid pain now, and go to heaven later Deal with problems Not ignore Not deny

Teach your children, Eph. 6:4; Deut. 6:6-9 Doctrine, Prov. 4:1, 2 -One church, Eph. 4:4-6 -Baptism, Acts 2:38 -Judgment, 2 Cor. 5:10

Teach your children, Eph. 6:4; Deut. 6:6-9 Morals, Prov. 5:1-9 -Sexual immorality, 1 Cor. 6:18 -Tell the truth, Eph. 4:25 -Pride, Prov. 11:2

Teach your children, Eph. 6:4; Deut. 6:6-9 Encourage your children, Prov. 15:20 -Doing Bible lessons -Kind deeds -Good behavior

Discipline your children With a loving hand, Heb. 12:5-7 -Not from rage -Not from power play -Not from arbitrary decisions

Discipline your children Use the rod, Prov. 13:24 -Rebellious words -Defiant behavior -Disobedient actions

Discipline your children Words of correction, Prov. 17:10 -On the spot -Sit-down talk -Letters

Restrain your children, 1 Sam. 3:13 They are your responsibility Restrict friendships, 1 Cor. 15:33 Address or remove dangers -Entertainment -Clothing -Internet

Background Owned by NewsCorp (FX, 20 th Century Fox) 20% of visitors are million unique visitors in May 2006 Membership is free Supposed protections But people lie!

Background Criticism: Rebecca Hagelin -“sexual predator’s and pornographer’s playground” -Old hang out: malt shops (mall) -New hang out: Cyberspace -New troubles and dangers -MySpace has porn stars & film makers

Terrible acts connected to MySpace “Crimes as serious as murder and rape have been linked to teens using the site…kids have posted tales—and photos— of the alleged drinking and drug use” (People).

Terrible acts connected to MySpace Man found photos of 13-year-old daughter in undersized bikini and oversized sunglasses Pedophile tried to lure 12-year-old girl away from home 14-year-old girl committed fornication with 19-year-old boy she met on MySpace 16-year-old girl flew to Jordan to marry a West Bank man

Societal problem Society is corrupt, Gen. 6:5, 11; 1 Jn. 5:19 Various sins praised, Gal. 5:19-21 Satan wants your child, 1 Pet. 5:8

Parental problem Failed to raise children properly, Eph. 6:4 Need to get over technological hurdle Questions: -Do you know what is on your child’s site? -Do you have their password? -Do you know who their “friends” are and what they have on their page?

Parental problem Forbid children to go to bars, strip clubs Not allow them to talk to perverts on phone Not allow them to talk to friends about drinking, drugs, sex on phone

How can the problem be corrected? Not allow children on MySpace Get filtering software that denies access Talk to your children about the dangers

MySpace.com – a social-networking Web site Popularity is soaring Over 80 million users Innocent & not-so-innocent children Pedophiles, rapists, immoral teens, & human debris

Want our children to avoid pain now, and go to heaven later Deal with problems Not ignore Not deny