Discussion: MySpace and Deleting Online Predators
Act (DOPA)
The following interview with Henry Jenkins (co-director of the Comparative Media Studies Program
at MIT) and danah boyd (PhD student at the School of Information, University of California-
Berkeley) was conducted via email by Sarah Wright of the MIT News Office. An abbreviated version
was published by the MIT News Office on 24 May 2006. We are providing a full transcript of our
interview online because we believe that it provides valuable information for parents, legislators and
press who are concerned about the dangers of MySpace.
"MySpace did not create teenage bullying but it has made
it more visible to many adults, although it is not clear that the embarrassment online is any more damaging
to the young victims than offline. Regardless of medium, the humiliation occurs when the entire school or
social community knows of the attack; MySpace and other online mediums may help spread rumors faster,
but they have always spread in the halls of schools pretty quickly. No one of any age enjoys being the
target of public tormenting, but new media is not to blame for peer-to-peer harassment simply because it
makes it more visible to outsiders. In fact, in many ways, this visibility provides a window through which
teen mentors can help combat this issue."