MySpace not responsible for your children
By Greg Pivarnik
The Daily Campus
Four families from four separate states filed lawsuits against News Corp., the parent company of MySpace, because their underage daughters were sexually assaulted by people they met on the social-networking site. Though it may seem like a novel way for the parents to make some extra cash, MySpace is not responsible for the actions of its users. At some point individuals in this country have to start carrying some of the burden for their actions. These include parents, and yes, teenagers as well.
Apparently, litigiousness has replaced quality parenting as the way to raise the youth of this country. Parents often pass the buck when their children make poor choices. Whether they get arrested for possession of drugs, don't get playing time on a sports team or get poor grades in the school, the children are never to blame. Instead, parents blame society, coaches, teachers and other social influences, instead of properly disciplining and raising the children themselves. This is not meant to demean the horrific abuses that these girls suffered. Many of them are too young to maturely deal with a sexual relationship, and many were not seeking one in the first place. Rape and sexual assault is uncalled for and can be psychologically traumatizing for many years. Unfortunately, many adults use social sites such as MySpace, Facebook and Xanga, to lure unsuspecting minors into potentially-harmful situations.
Claiming ignorance and attempting to pass the responsibility onto MySpace is not a legitimate excuse to file a lawsuit. Responsible parents have to become familiar with the Internet and its benefits and dangers.
Well said Mr. Pivarnik, very well said.