Whose space?

I have recently been involved in an online incident with some of my younger family members. They are girls and up to all sorts of things, online and not.

What happened was, embarrasing for those involved, apparently, but amusingly educational for myself.

I had two of my nieces visit me. I have, of course, been following their myspace sites for a while. Something they have been absolutely clueless about. After all, it's "their space". Isn't it?

Over dinner one night, I happened to mention that I had been to their sites. They both went right pale and explained to me that it wasn't "their myspace" - it was a friend who did it for them, "they" hardly went online, you see!

This they proclaimed without blinking - oblivious to the fact how often I had encouraged them to go do something else than serial instant messaging with their friends.

It's the same scenario - but years ago you would proclaim that these weren't your cigarettes, you were only keeping them for your troubled friend!

As a result of this, rather amusing, episode - both have now gone on to change their privacy settings - and only "friends" are allowed to see what their are up to online.

I wonder if I should now try and have them add me as a friend? For educational purposes only, of course - after all, that's what semi-middle-aged nieces are here for: being a pain in the..., isn't it?

But is it "their space" or can I, or rather should I, even bother intruding upon "their space" online?

I think not - my work is done for now. It made them think. It seems.