He unleashed the beast on the people
When it hit no one cried or screamed
They all went about their business
Getting back to the front of the TV screen
Now the thing, he's part of you
He'll keep your pride alive
And who are they to accuse you?
I guess they think that thing's a lie!
--The Thing in the Bass Amp, by the Aquabats
This song has always reminded me of the fear that comes with something or someone that is poorly understood. For example... MySpace!
In Poynter's look at what was over-covered in the media this week, it's mentioned that most major TV networks ran a bit about MySpace, throwing it in a scary light and warning parents to keep an eye on this social evil.
Scary predators are out there. Children online are targets. Kids can post hurtful comments about each other. You know, it IS scary. But it's nothing a little caution and dialogue can't control.
The hype about MySpace reminds me of a number of things my parents had irrational fears of when I was growing up, because they didn't take the time to really understand those things... Dungeons and Dragons, because roleplaying made kids kill themselves... Teen magazine, because it was playboy for girls... Hotmail, because it sounded BAD!
Parents need to stay aware of the new dangers that come with each new technology and use of technology. They need to be aware of "fads." But they need to understand these issues too, before they can judge them. Obviously hotmail wasn't any more dangerous than the family email host... Obviously, MySpace is as dangerous as ANY site online.
Internet responsibility everywhere means your kid will be safe anywhere. Dialogue between parents and kids will help both parties to truly understand what's happening. Us media junkies, we get to help that along by deciding what light to play something in.
As Poynter's Scott Libin said: I think we'll be talking for quite a while to come about MySpace.com, similar sites and the social trends they reflect. The question is not whether journalists should be covering them, but how.
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