How MySpace works

Anybody with a computer can visit MySpace.com and anybody can create a profile.

What's on a page

MySpace users can include lots of information in their profiles in categories like "interests and personality," "background and lifestyle," "schools and companies."

Users interact by blogging, sending bulletins, and messaging between friends. They can also share their thoughts, moods, and favorite music.

Users often view profiles of their friends and their friends' friends. People also tend to surf for people in the same school or neighborhood.

Friends

Making “friends” is at the core of what MySpace is all about. If you want more access to information about another user, you can ask to be accepted as a "friend." Once you're a "friend," nothing is private -- including blog entries and bulletins. Accumulating friends on MySpace is a badge of honor.

To sign up

To find a MySpace profile, you need to sign up for your own profile. It's free and only takes a couple of minutes. Go to the MySpace homepage - www.myspace.com - and you will see a form that says "Member Login." Click on the orange one that says "Sign Up!"

Fill out a form

The next page provides a form to fill out. You enter personal information and establish a password. You now must agree to MySpace's terms of service and privacy policy. Click on the orange 'sign up' box at the bottom of the page.

• The next page invites you to upload photos. You don't have to do this; click on the 'skip for now' link.

• This takes you to a page where you can invite friends to join MySpace too. Again, you don't have to do this; you can click on the 'skip for now' link.

You now arrive at your new MySpace profile. In the future you can login from the MySpace home page and go directly to this page.

Search

From your profile you can search for any MySpace profile by clicking on the blue "Search" tab. There are several ways to search for and find a MySpace user.

The easiest way to find someone is to search for their e-mail address in the "Find a Friend" search field (click on the e-mail option. If this doesn't work, or you don't know their e-mail, you can try entering the person’s name into the search field. You can also search for a person through their school by using the "Find a Classmate" search field or by “zip code.” You can also find people through their friends since MySpace users link to each other's profiles

Contacting MySpace

The very bottom of MySpace pages includes frequently asked questions and a contact

form to report abuse.

How to Delete a MySpace Account Belonging to an Underage Member

1. If a parent decides that a child’s account should be closed, and the child is cooperative, the procedure is:

• Logon to MySpace.

• Click “Account Settings”.

• On the “Change Account Settings” page, click on “Cancel Account“

• Click on the “Cancel My Account” button in the confirmation box.

• Include remarks if desired; then click on the second “Cancel My Account” button to complete the request process.

• A cancellation message will be sent to the email address of record. Replying to this email is required in order to complete the automated account closure process.

2. Alternative Account Closure

Contact MySpace via the contact form at the bottom of the page, to request that the account be closed. This request should include the child’s URL number on the form. This information can be located on at the top of the page in the address bar or the left-hand side of the welcome page displayed following initial logon.

Content adapted from MSNBC.com – Step-By-Step-Guide; How MySpace Works and WiredSafety.org – MySpace Guide.

NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services – Missing and Exploited Children Clearinghouse
To view detailed online safety information, including video and PowerPoint presentations, or
to schedule a presentation, visit the Operation SAFE CHILD website:

www.operationsafechild.org