Pros, cons of private MySpace profiles

When I interviewed Larry Magid, co-author of the new book "MySpace Unraveled: What it is and how to use it safely," I came in skeptical. Despite the occasional unwanted attention from strangers, I totally love online social networking. I know kids have been abducted and other unfortunate things have happened as a result of connections made online, but I don't think MySpace is the devil.

Video: MySpace privacy
CNET's Neha Tiwari talks to author Larry Magid about the policies of social networks.

I talked to Magid, a technology consultant, on how the social network should monitor the age of its users. We also discussed the pros and cons of having a privacy option for one's profile. Magid argues that while private profiles might shut out potential predators, they eliminate the watchful gaze of parents and other authority figures who could make important, or even life-saving, discoveries while viewing MySpace profiles.

I know, for example, that many parents have found out about their kids' unsafe partying by reading MySpace. To which I can't help but ask: How about not stalking your kids, and actually talking to them about what they are doing? I know, many kids won't fess up. I'm not a parent, but maybe some of you out there who are can weigh in. Watch the video above to hear what Magid has to say and then tell me: Are parents using MySpace just as destructively as kids are (but in the converse way)?

You can see part two of my interview with Magid here.