I've never been on My Space or other sights like it. I thought they were really for teens/early 20's to chat/hook up. ( I am aware of all the pedophiles too.) I was surprised to learn that a number of teachers and staff I work with have pages. I would never open that door because of my students using it too. Why ask for trouble? Do many "grown ups" have My Space pages, and if so for what purpose? Or am I just not techno savy enough to see the benefits???
I used to have one but i also could not work out the point of it? msn i can understand because you can have a free flowing conversation but myspace is just a jumble of pictures and old messages plus some garish wallpaper, but its popular and each to their own i guess
I keep in touch with those that live far away on it. I joined a few myspace groups and add a couple of people from their. I have a couple of people from here added on it.
I also like new bands a lot, it helps there and I have had some wicked free stuff of them from there too.
EngTeach, I am 21 and cannot grasp these profiling sites at all! I just can't fathom why others would want to trawl the web to find random people and read their life stories.
I am a youth worker, and I know of colleagues who give young people their myspace/facebook/faceparty address, or their MSN address, and I think it's really inappropriate tbh.
regardless of its merits, you are very wise not to leave yourself open to nosy students, EngTeach. There's been some fuss in the UK recently about prospective employers looking at applicant's pages, reading all about their drunken antics and cancelling the interviews.
I had a dabble with myspace, I put my picture on ( one taken 25 years ago mind) and almost at once got some idiot wanting to be my friend. I got off there quick and my conclusion is.......value the friends you know....dont go into cyberspace its risky.
So now I know I'm not off base staying away from these things. Thanks for all your input.
JNO.. One reason I find it unfit as an educator to do this, is that if a student posed as an adult, I could find myself in legal trouble.
We have had minor bullying complaints among students and parents due to My Space postings. There have been some teachers here in the states who have sued and won LARGE settlements against families of students who have postesd horrid things about them. The schools also were held responsible when it was found that mantyof the postings were done on school computers. Of course the little hooligans can break all the security systems in place.
I am 30 and have had my myspace account going for 2 years now. I use to keep in contact with friends who do not live locally. I have also recently got back in touch with old school friends that I havent seen for 14 years...we're even planning a school reunion now through myspace!
I also found it is a great way to get to hear music from upcoming unsigned bands/singers.
I have several! But I use mine as a kind of online CV. It has my artwork, music and comedy scripts on. I use it to keep in contact with friends I rarely see. However, I have now discovered Facebook.com which is actually far better for the friends and contacts aspect.