There is no question that the social networking site, MySpace.com is one of the most popular destinations on the web. It seems as if simply everyone has a MySpace page. Musicians and comedians own MySpace pages. Politicians have MySpace pages. Even notorious killers have run MySpace pages. Several ordinary people have gained relative infamy via a MySpace account.

"As expected, many adult webmasters have decided to jump into the MySpace phenomenon. One has to wonder if this is a wise move? Must we always climb the mountain just because it's there?"

This is the power of the Internet, the ability to reach the world (and the world to reach you) from the comfort and convenience of home. For many reasons, My Space has a hold on the public’s interest. The service is free and very easy to use. An account offers the ability to upload pictures, embed YouTube videos and mp3s. A MySpace user can add friends and create mini, personal networks. Whereas, all these tools have been available for years, MySpace repackages them in a friendly, newbie-loving format - FREE!

One must remember that the average surfer has probably never created a webpage or uploaded files to an ftp server. MySpace is for folks that want a presence on the net yet don’t have the desire or inclination to learn the skills adult webmasters have been honing for years.

Consequentially, the MySpace craze makes the site a shiny target for commercial exploitation. There is no place safe from marketing, even on the Internet. As expected, many adult webmasters have decided to jump into the MySpace phenomenon. One has to wonder if this is a wise move? Granted, MySpace is a hot property, ripe for the picking, but at what cost? Must we always climb the mountain just because it’s there?

Have you read the MySpace Terms of Service page? I suggest you do it before you create that new account with porn sponsor content, a fake owner named Missy38-23-35, who just loves sex and has twenty friends that all fly sponsor banners with your referrer ID. Before you post one nipple shot or insert the words fuck, slut, gangbang or bukkake on your MySpace page ­ take the time to pull your head out of your ass and think about what you’re doing. If you read the MySpace TOS, maybe you’ll realize that trying to promote adult content on their pages isn’t just a violation of the terms, it’s a gross violation the terms.

First off, there are the eligibility requirements for membership to MySpace:

“By using the MySpace Services, you represent and warrant that... (c) you are 14 years of age or older...”

Ponder that over for a minute. Minors will see your MySpace page, that is, until MySpace shuts your account down for violation of these terms:

“Non-commercial Use by Members. The MySpace Services are for the personal use of Members only and may not be used in connection with any commercial endeavors except those that are specifically endorsed or approved by MySpace.com.”

“Content/Activity Prohibited:

...exploits people in a sexual or violent manner

...contains nudity, violence, or offensive subject matter or contains a link to an adult website

... involves commercial activities and/or sales without our prior written consent such as contests, sweepstakes, barter, advertising, or pyramid schemes

... for band and filmmaker profiles, uses sexually suggestive imagery or any other unfair, misleading or deceptive Content intended to draw traffic to the profile.”

Wait. There’s more.

“The following is a partial list of the kind of activity that is illegal or prohibited on the MySpace Website and through your use of the MySpace Services:

... advertising to, or solicitation of, any Member to buy or sell any products or services through the MySpace Services.

... attempting to impersonate another Member or person

... displaying an advertisement on your profile, or accepting payment or anything of value from a third person in exchange for your performing any commercial activity on or through the MySpace Services on behalf of that person, such as placing commercial content on your profile, posting blogs or bulletins with a commercial purpose, selecting a profile with a commercial purpose as one of your "Top 8" friends, or sending private messages with a commercial purpose.”

No one is claiming that adult webmasters have no right to join MySpace. However, after reading MySpace’s TOS, it is abundantly clear that posting an adult oriented page for the purposes of selling adult content is a violation of terms. Not only that, but considering that MySpace caters to millions of minors, porn on a MySpace page is highly unethical. As stated, if a person builds a MySpace page and that person just happens to be an adult webmaster, there’s nothing technically wrong with the effort. However, when an adult webmaster creates a MySpace page with the intent of selling adult content, then that adult webmaster is playing with fire.