The Dangers Of Bebo and MySpace! PART II
Over the past 6 or so months, online “friend” sites such as www.myspace.com and www.bebo.com have taken the world by storm with MySpace.com recently notching up it’s 47th million user which is one of the reasons why it grew by 609% within in the last year! The service that the majority of them offer is the ability to upload pictures to your very own profile page where you can also add your own biography and list the things that you are interested in. People access your profile by adding you as a friend. Friends can leave comments about each other in what has recently become an over-glorified popularity contest.
With many people desperate for all the friends they can get, they will accept invitations from complete strangers just so their friend count will increase by one. This is where alarm bells start going off in my mind! Yesterday I signed up to bebo.com and imported all my contacts from my Hotmail.com account, the vast majority of whom I’ve never met and many being people I haven’t spoken to in years. This morning, a mere 24 hours later, I checked the site and saw that many people had accepted my invitation for “friendship”. I was looking through everyone’s profiles and noticed that about 60% of people had entered in their Mobile phone number and their full address! Oh dear!
Now try and remember that I don’t know a lot of these people and they don’t know me either yet all of a sudden I had access to their mobile phone number, full address and their pictures! This really is a disaster waiting to happen! If I wanted, I could cause havok! I could innocently sign them up to receive spam by mail or register them on ringtone sites resulting in them wasting credit. They’re just innocent ideas, if I were a paedophile or a pervert then I could use their address for a lot more malicious purposes. I really hope that that won’t be the case but I can’t help but feel that in this day and age, my fears could become a reality!
I really don’t want that to happen so I’ve embarked on a mission to expose these dangers. I thought about it for a while and I decided that the best way to do this would be to actually pose as a 19 year old stunner from the USA who now lives in Ireland
First I created a new email address: tracy.xox@gmail.com. I’ve already cut a corner because gmail.com isn’t yet open to the public so some guys might be a bit suspicious over how i managed to get a gmail.com address. At the end of the day though, I was just too damn lazy to go through hotmail’s longwinded signup system! Once I created the email address I had to search for a picture so I typed in “prom” into google images and picked the photo of the most beautiful girl on the page. I chose to use a prom photo because the story goes that I was a prom queen last year in New York (my hometown naturally) and this way if someone asks me about New York I can make up some bullshit answer and they’ll be none the wiser. After signing up I made up a half believable story about my life thusfar and entered in a few things that I like and dislike.
This is the stage that I’m at at the moment. Just to let everyone know that my goal isn’t to deceive people, instead it’s to make people aware of the potential danger. It’s the prove that people throw all sense of judgement out the window when they are desperate for friends and I reckon that in the next few days I will be well on the way to proving it because “Tracy’s” story isn’t solid. It’s full of holes that will become blatantly obvious to everyone once they find out that Tracy isn’t real. However if someone wanted to, they could pay a lot of attention to detail and make sure their story is rock solid!
I’ll let everyone know how this experiment turns out and if you want to check out my progress, check out Tracy’s Bebo page @ http://Tracyxox.bebo.com
YOU CAN SEE PART II of this report Here
tagsbebo, myspace, danger, identity theft, paedophile, pervert, social experimenttags
wowy, I really think that you should get a life.
OK look whoever you are, myspace isnt a bad thing at all. its your option to put inappropriate pictures on there and first of all they dont allow obscene pictures any way. U need to get a life because what people do on there site isn’t your business anyway. you dont need to worry about other peoples sites because they can take care of there selves. and its just a way of talking to friends and things like that, if u have a problem with it then DONT LOOK AT IT!!!!!!!!! ok get a life!
You really didn’t read a thing that I found. I mentioned absolutely nothing about “obscene photos” in my article. I actually only referred to Bebo and how people seemed to be fond of entering in their home address and a proper phone number but I doubt you have the intelligence nor the attention span to do anything other than form that atrocious piece of text that you call an opinion.
you sad individual, any ones knows that via social engineering, and be a gay boy and making fictious accounts up, pretending to be a “hot babe” will allow you to get the contact details of sdad wankers, seriously you need to get a life.
Hi. English. Learn. Before. You. Speak. Kthxbye!
Hahaha, i just read over all that! And i think this is the first time that i will say that i’d have to agree with adam. That “anonymous” person is such a fucking dope.
Hi, I think what you did was an excellent idea. People who abusively defend bebo are just sensitive because they dont want to feel stupid or vulnerable for being part of it. I dont have any strong objections to bebo or my space but the fact is we need people highlighting the awareness of such things because the internet is an arena that’s incredibly hard to police. So, nice one!
Adam,
As a part of a speech class this semester I have been assigned a group project to find a solution to a societal problem. My group obviously saw Myspace as a major societal problem and I just thought I’d let you know that I support your opinion 100%. We have done a lot of research on this topic and it poses a major threat on teenagers and adults alike that are not cautious. I am not against blogs such as Myspace, Xanga, Bebo, etc. BUT only if they are used appropriately and with good judgement. It’s going to be an exciting topic to tackle. I think it’s great that you are informing people of the dangers that can occur from using blogs irresponsibly. Thanks!
Interesting article. But what do you mean gmail.com isn’t open to the public??
Wow…that has got to be THE most boring, most useless piece of infomation that I have ever read!
(And I’ve read Jorden’s Autobiograpy!!!!!)
GET A LIFE!!!!
You can read? That’s an achievement in itself! Well done!
great…. Adam is a mini celebrity now!!!
That means i was friends with a mini celebrity and i got off with a mini celebrity…..
thanks adam!!
xxx
It’s been nigh on a year now since the bubble of “bebo” has engorged the lives of many of my friends and acquaintances alike… I’ve remained enthusiastic in my opinon of said site. In complete agreement with Adam, the site is potentially very dangerous… But my argument is far less conservative. I believe the site is far more sinister in it’s abilities than is let on in the above article. “Bebo” not only allows opportunities for rare, possible perversions but also is breeding social delusions and divisions! People alter their personas just to fit into the general lackadaisical cliques which popularity seems to evolve. Therefore, the capitalist culture’s faults are being mingled with our evolving generation… We are losing our individuality for the future and are turning into a typical shallow society… Sad. When will the bubble eventually burst??
As a mother i would like to praise you on what you have done,my 16 year old son is obsessed with this site, he has been bullied and has being bullying other children himself, on his site there was a flashbox of a fight in our local area,which was doing the rounds, i contacted the police who said they could do nothing,.
my greatest fear is that he will be a paedophiles prey and judging by what ive seen he would be a prime candidate because he was in contact with an american girl living in wexford and was arranging to meet her. anything could’ve happened to him, and whoever said that there is no obscenities on this site would wanna look again!!
and another thing wat eejit said get a life, they have no children , because they are our life, and we need to look out for them.
nigga shut that bullshit up and get a mutha fuckin life and suck my dick bitch
i am a member of bebo and i do find it ok to use. i am only friends with people i know and i am fully aware of the dangers. i agree with anyone who has any fears and doubts about the site as i am well aware of the hurt and harm that it can cause. in saying that however i must admit that i have not encountered any obnoxious behavior or bullying on the site so far. i just wanted to leave my opinion as most of these comments are just from stupid people who only have 3 words in their vocabulary “get a life”
you dont have to give a name, number or address on either of them sites.And if you dont like it so much why did you join bebo you idiot.Its not up to you to tell people what they should and should’nt do.GET A LIFE YOU GIMP!
i hate u
i think u need to go get a life ur such a dick head no one wants to here wat u want to say so piss off
You people ar epretty funny with the opinions u are expressing such as “noone cares about what u have to say” and “get a life”
Ur not exactly showing that u have much of a life when u have nothing better to do then read an article like that and then post abusive comments saying how sad and pathetic he is for doing such a thing…..
Its a bit hypocritical… maybe you should take ur own advice if u feel so strongly about it and stop contradicting urself.
i came to this sight coz i wanted to know the shit i could get into for making bebo, and reali i got jack shit info apart from establishing that adam is making a fake bebo. woop de shit loser, and all u fukas hu are supporting him and licking his ass u guys reali need to shove ur foot up someone elses ass. bebo good shit to stalk all ur friends convos, and u no it!
dis is a load of shit lol n it aint bad only if preverts go on it n divvy ppl talk 2 em !!!
heya people wats up i think bebo is cool but some time’s there are weired people on it !!!!!!!!!
FUCK ALL OF U BEBO IS IS THE BEST WEB SITE OUT THERE.WAT IS WRONG WIT IT THERE IS NUTTIN WRONG WIT IT.LEAVE ME A COMMENT PLEASE ON XXJACK IS SXCXX.BEBO.COM
Police think they can see me lean
I’m tint so it ain’t easy to be seen
When you see me ride by they can see the glean
And my shine on the deck and the TV screen
Ride with a new chick, she like hold up
Next to the playstation controller is a full clip and my pistola
Turn a jacker into a coma
Girl you ain’t know, I’m crazy like Krayzie Bone
Just tryin to bone ain’t tryin to have no babies
Rock clean itself so I pull in ladies
Laws of patrolling you know they hate me
Music turned all the way up until the maximum
I can speak for some niggas tryin to jack for some
But we packin somethin that we have and um will have a nigga locked up in the maximum
Security cell, I’m grippin oak
Music loud and tippin slow
Twist and twistin like hit this dough
Pull up from behind and is in his throat
Windows down gotta stop pollution
CDs change niggas like who is that producing?
This the Play-N-Skillz when we out and cruisin
Got warrants in every city except Houston but I’m still ain’t losin
Police think they can see me lean
I’m tint so it ain’t easy to be seen
When you see me ride by they can see the glean
And my shine on the deck and the TV screen
Ride with a new chick, she like hold up
Next to the playstation controller is a full clip and my pistola
Turn a jacker into a coma
Girl you ain’t know, I’m crazy like Krayzie Bone
Just tryin to bone ain’t tryin to have no babies
Rock clean itself so I pull in ladies
Laws of patrolling you know they hate me
Music turned all the way up until the maximum
I can speak for some niggas tryin to jack for some
But we packin somethin that we have and um will have a nigga locked up in the maximum
Security cell, I’m grippin oak
Music loud and tippin slow
Twist and twistin like hit this dough
Pull up from behind and is in his throat
Windows down gotta stop pollution
CDs change niggas like who is that producing?
This the Play-N-Skillz when we out and cruisin
Got warrants in every city except Houston but I’m still ain’t losin………………
Police think they can see me lean
I’m tint so it ain’t easy to be seen
When you see me ride by they can see the glean
And my shine on the deck and the TV screen
Ride with a new chick, she like hold up
Next to the playstation controller is a full clip and my pistola
Turn a jacker into a coma
Girl you ain’t know, I’m crazy like Krayzie Bone
Just tryin to bone ain’t tryin to have no babies
Rock clean itself so I pull in ladies
Laws of patrolling you know they hate me
Music turned all the way up until the maximum
I can speak for some niggas tryin to jack for some
But we packin somethin that we have and um will have a nigga locked up in the maximum
Security cell, I’m grippin oak
Music loud and tippin slow
Twist and twistin like hit this dough
Pull up from behind and is in his throat
Windows down gotta stop pollution
CDs change niggas like who is that producing?
This the Play-N-Skillz when we out and cruisin
Got warrants in every city except Houston but I’m still ain’t losin
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxplz comment it
How about stop being such a waster, people like bebo…and my space…get over it and stop looking so much attention….do you have a girlfriend? (Or maybe your boyfriend left you?)
i think what you have done is very clever. i myself am thinking of doing the same thing i AM DOING A PROJECT ON BEBO SO THANKS FOR THE IDEA
okay so alot of people seemed to have formed an opinion on what yu have said
for all those critics of “Adam” who immediately jumped to the defenseive and came out with the highly original 2get a life”-firstly, if yoo ar reading this shit you must not actauly have much of a life yourself
secondly-what adam said-He is not saying that bebo is bad or that people shoudnt use it but that it carries a risk and that is something which young people should really know more about
when someone buys a packet of cigarretes theres a big health warning on the packet telloing of the dangers whicn most people are aware of before opening the packet-sometihng like that should be made for bebo in ths day and age when technology apprears to be taking over
I myself have a bebo account and regularly use it. Like most things it had its good and bad points and its dangers. As long as people are aware of this and use it safely anf sensibly there is no problem
well-done Adam
Bebo is really go0d 4 mates that want 2 chat n if u wanna meet new peeps n that but u can get sum weirdos on there! xXx
i think that u have to be the sadest person on this earth and why would you even go throught the boder of typein all that up !!! sad case
well done to adam for an original idea……unlike the losers saying “get a life” and “load of shit”
but what’s up with the shit rap or poem or whatever that is………did u even read the artircle????
OI FUKEN HELL MAN U A DUMB CUNT AYE WHO THE FUK CARES ABOUT WHAT U THINK I AGREE WID ANONYMOUS AND YA MUM THERE AINT NOTHIN WRONG WID IT AND YER ALL U FUKAS SUPPORTING HIM AND LICKIN HIS ASS ….. HEY ” NO NEED TO CRAWL” EVERYONE WHO AGREES WID ADAM FUKIN IDIOTS
OH YER AND THAT RAP WAS SO FUKED IT WASNT FUNNY I READ THE FIRST LINE AND SAID
” WTF IS THIS GAY SHIT ”
AND Y DID U PRINT 3 OF IT??
Lol Tards,
Bebo is gay
Randoms get rep. from a online bebo thing
What do you mean “get a life” to adam
Bebo doesnt give u a legit. life
FFS
nbn
The bebo site caters to the lowest common denominator and directly leads and caters to the degeneration of society and individuals, since those with a conscience will always feel happier around those more degenerate than themselves, this is leading to a direct de-generation of society on an individual and collective basis, and is the basis of all addiction : When you feel uncomfortable or troubled in anyway you will always seek to find relief in distraction instead of looking at the cause, invariably meaning you will not feel happier unless around people of lower self worth/esteem than yourself, very dangerous, and quite cunning since if you keep running you will never see it.
Hey
I am 13 so just old enough to use bebo
I fully agree that bebo is dangerous
my old account I had when I was 11 got stalked and stuff
So those ppl telling u to get a life should
get one themselves
I dont tell ppl my email, or my address
when it says where do u live, I said Earth! Even though I live in London, I have to say that I would still feel watched if I said I lived in London!
Good on u
Oh and u cant look at ure bebo account! Cos u have made it private…that means only ure friends can see
go onto edit profile and u will see a box saying make my profile public
THIS IS ALL STUPID, EVERY NICE PERSON ON THIS SITE, rock on!!!!!!!!
oh and well dun adam 2 lol!
ADAMZ A RETART!!!!!!
HAHAHAH.
WTF
you are so fuckin lame u only add people as friends that you fuckin know dumbass if they still your shit thats on you. you add people you know fuckin retard and i feel strongly on this comment ther is no danger of bebo or myspace except for idiots like you.
I COMPLETELY AGREE WITH YOU.
TODAYS YOUTH ARE GIVING OUT TOO MUCH PERSONAL INFORMATION OVER PERSONALIZED WEBPAGES AND IT SEEMS THAT THEY HAVE COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN THE DANGERS OF THE INTERNET.
I AM WRITING AN ARTICLE FOR MY SCHOOL NEWSPAPER AND I FEEL THAT A STORY LIKE THIS WOULD BE REALLY GOOD AND IT MIGHT HELP PEOPLE TO REALISE THE DANGERS OF THE INTERNET.
AS YOU SAY….PEOPLE ARE DISPLAYING THEIR E MAIL’S ALL OVER BEBO
(as i have done and all my friends have theirs up)
AND IF U LOOK AT SOME OF THE PICTURES THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE UP IS ASTONISHING. (and its mainly girls posing in such a perogative manner)
(and boys showing pics of their bodies and their boxers)
AND WHEN PEOPLE SEE THESE PICTURES THEY ADD THEM AS FRIENDS….AND IF YOU NOTICE, WHEN YOU SEE A PENDING FRIENDS REQUEST ON BEBO…IT SHOWS YOUR HOTMAIL ADDRESS.
I ALSO CAME ACROSS SOME BEBO SITES WHICH ACTUALLY ADVERTISE FOR SINGLES TO MEET UP.
WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT ALL OF THIS…SOMETHING BAD IS INEVITABLE
WELL I JUST WROTE THIS COMMMENT TO SAY KEEP US POSTED BECAUSE UNLIKE SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE WRITING SOME COMPLETELY ILLITERATE COMMENTS, THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO CARES FOR THE WELFARE OF TODAYS YOUTH.
BYE
elo elo elo! Wohoo!!!
Luk at u n ur big swelled head on ya………….ughhhhhh!
omg wats up wit rufus’ spelling n wat tool spelt retard wit a ‘t’?
x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x;-)
Me n keevey pig fell out! Bumphy tinks keevey pig is lyin n it turns out she cannot climb walls! sad case…
I agree that bebo is a dangerous site and adam can shut it.
up yours Adam…bebo is a death trap and you know it………………………you b*****d.
well personally i think it is very dangerous !!!!
ur mum
People who are saying “OMFG GET A LYF U FUCKWIT OMGDKSJFSD!!!!111!!!! LYK ADD ME LUSTYBABE45!!!!!!!” are fucken spastics who obviously need to get a life themselves as they have nothing better to do than leave retarded comments on this and get random people to add them on bebo. You are all fucken losers, can’t you see that you are pretty much proving what Adam is talking about?
Hes not saying people HAVE to add their details, hes saying they JUST DO! Bebo is fun, but its pathetic when people turn it into a popularity contest.
Get fucked kids! And if your not a kid, your bloody well acting like one.
Honestly, you do have some valid points, but you seem to be making a mountain out of a molehill here. this argument has been made many times before. with the “block” option and the “report abuse” option, using bebo is no more dangerous than anything else.
I’ve just read this blog and I’ve not had a laugh like this in ages.
I agree wholeheartedly about Bebo being stupid, for a start it’s name sounds like some afternoon show for pre schoolers (and now on One - Bebo) but what gets me really are those people who type “GET A LYF U NOB” or whatever but they do it anonymously - At least have the balls to put your name in!!