MySpace for Muslims Who Play by the Rules

June 30, 2006 — -- A teenager is assaulted by someone she meets on MySpace.com.

Another goes halfway across the world to meet her MySpace soul mate.

What started out as a place where artists and musicians could find a following has turned into a potentially dangerous place, especially for young people.

One man decided to make a safer space -- for Muslims.

Don't even think about swearing or hitting on other users, and don't post any inappropriate pictures.

You'll get kicked off in a heartbeat if you do.

Mohamed el-Fatatry of Finland created MuslimSpace in March to provide a clean, safe and Islamic forum where Muslims and people interested in Islam could network. It is not related in any way to MySpace.com.

Using the Internet for religious purposes is no new phenomenon.

According to a 2004 Pew Research Center survey, 64 percent of Americans -- about 82 million people -- use the Web for religious purposes.

University of Missouri online journalism professor Clyde Bentley recognizes the growth potential of social networking sites, especially religious ones.

"The ability to quickly make relationships is enormous," Bentley said. "Social networking will explode in a couple years, and that includes religious groups."

He said that the Internet had always been a place for marginalized or minority groups to get together and that everyone was looking for people with similar interests.

The similar interest in this case is a safe, clean Islamic forum with enforceable rules.

A former member of MySpace and a practicing Muslim, el-Fatatry found the Web site disgusting, filled with lewd pictures and often explicit sexual content.

"I created the Web site [MuslimSpace.com] to provide an alternative social networking service to people who like to socialize without being constantly exposed to adult advertisements, corrupt content, and racial/offensive comments about Islam and Muslims," el-Fatatry said.

To be a part of the MuslimSpace.com global community, you have to play by the rules -- and there are a lot of them.