Report: MySpace Users Said Responsible

A study by Florida Atlantic University researchers has found that the school’s students are typically responsible users of the MySpace social Web site.

The Palm Beach Post reported that the study, which focused on the MySpace.com sites created by FAU students, found that most used the social networking Internet site in a proper manner.

While nearly 5 percent of FAU students did offer photographs of themselves in their underwear or swimsuits, the study found most students directly contradicted recent rumors of irresponsible MySpace use by teenage students.

Our results indicated that youth are in fact posting personal and identifying information, but perhaps not to the extent that many believe. The vast majority of adolescents are demonstrating common sense in this area — which we’re pleased to see, FAU professor Sameer Hinduja said.

That being said, some teenagers still appear to be uninformed or overly trusting, and parents and educators would do well to continue to underscore the importance of online safety to all youthful populations, he added to the paper.