MySpace

Social networking Web site MySpace—which offers user profiles, photos, videos, blogs, group chat, music downloads, and an internal e-mail system—now boasts more than 72 million registered users.
This is the new “in” thing that “everyone” seems to be doing. A few months ago I hadn’t even heard of this site, one of the most visited in Web-dom.
A Relevant article describe the writer’s similar ignorance, and caution that I’ve had.

Here's what I see as reasons for using MySpace:
* Build “community,” make new friends, catch up with old ones, etc…

Reasons against:
* It can be addicting.
The average user logs onto the site for one hour and 40 minutes daily.

A community college in Texas has blocked MySpace.com. School officials at Del Mar College found that 40% of all Internet use at the school was dedicated to the site and claim it was eating up all the bandwidth.
* Not all the content on MySpace is clean. Member photos, despite being censored for nudity, sometimes show women in seductive poses and revealing clothing.

Because of this and other negative content (explicit song lyrics, marketing, etc…) Christian alternatives to the site are now popping up online.
CoolChristianFriends.com is one, plus Xianz.com announced open registration to artists and record labels, and will go live to the public May 25.

While I admire the efforts of Christians attempting to provide positive content, I am turned off by these sites, which seem like “wannabes.”

Plus, the line between sacred and secular is not always defined, nor should it be.
Christians can make a positive influence even on MySpace—they must just be careful not to be polluted by it. (James 1:27)

So, all things considered, I’ve signed up. I’m going to give it a try—with much precaution not to spend too much time or energy online.

“America Online reported that only 8% blog to ‘expose political information.’ Instead, 50% of bloggers consider what they are doing to be therapy,” according to the April 21 Wall Street Journal.

True, writing is therapeutic, whether it’s on paper or the computer screen. However, it’s probably not healthy for a blogger to receive his or her only source of therapy and community online.

If you want to become my “friend,” or see my page, see http://www.myspace.com/carjoson.