Spring Break
Cyber stalkers seek out MySpace users
Lindsay McReynolds
Issue date: 3/9/06 Section: News
Many students use MySpace.com and other Internet forums as a diary, but some online predators use them as an opportunity to find their next victims.
Police arrested and charged a California man for sending sexually suggestive messages to a fake profile of a 15-year-old girl and later agreeing to meet her, according to an article on CNN.com posted Tuesday. Police also have arrested other sexual predators in cases involving MySpace, including one Monday in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Senior Heather McKnelly, who uses MySpace to keep up with friends, said she has received more than 15 questionable messages from unknown people.
"This one guy from my town was like, 'Hey, this is my phone number, why don't you come over to my house tonight? I'm having a party,'" McKnelly said. "I didn't know him."
However, McKnelly said she protects herself online by limiting the personal information she posts on MySpace.
"I have my town and where I went to high school, and I went to another college before I came here and the fact that I go to Truman," McKnelly said. "I have my IM name on there, but no address or phone number."
McKnelly said she posts pictures online to stay in contact with out-of-state friends.
However, her friends are not the only ones who are able to view the pictures.
"I have pictures on there, and random people will be like, 'Sexy pic,'" McKnelly said. "It's freaky."
Officer Richard Walters of the Kirksville Police Department said people should understand how dangerous it is to post personal information online.
"There are real dangers of putting information on the Web, and you need to let them know how dangerous it is and how dangerous it can be," Walters said.
Some people aren't aware of how vulnerable to cyber stalking they are. Sophomore Olivia King said she has photos but limited personal information revealed in her MySpace profile. She said she couldn't believe cyber stalking occurs so frequently.
Police arrested and charged a California man for sending sexually suggestive messages to a fake profile of a 15-year-old girl and later agreeing to meet her, according to an article on CNN.com posted Tuesday. Police also have arrested other sexual predators in cases involving MySpace, including one Monday in Cape Girardeau, Mo.
Senior Heather McKnelly, who uses MySpace to keep up with friends, said she has received more than 15 questionable messages from unknown people.
"This one guy from my town was like, 'Hey, this is my phone number, why don't you come over to my house tonight? I'm having a party,'" McKnelly said. "I didn't know him."
However, McKnelly said she protects herself online by limiting the personal information she posts on MySpace.
"I have my town and where I went to high school, and I went to another college before I came here and the fact that I go to Truman," McKnelly said. "I have my IM name on there, but no address or phone number."
McKnelly said she posts pictures online to stay in contact with out-of-state friends.
However, her friends are not the only ones who are able to view the pictures.
"I have pictures on there, and random people will be like, 'Sexy pic,'" McKnelly said. "It's freaky."
Officer Richard Walters of the Kirksville Police Department said people should understand how dangerous it is to post personal information online.
"There are real dangers of putting information on the Web, and you need to let them know how dangerous it is and how dangerous it can be," Walters said.
Some people aren't aware of how vulnerable to cyber stalking they are. Sophomore Olivia King said she has photos but limited personal information revealed in her MySpace profile. She said she couldn't believe cyber stalking occurs so frequently.
