Tech Shout!

Popular website MySpace.com is becoming a Subject of Sex Assault Probe as police are investigating whether as many as seven teenage girls have been sexually assaulted by men they met at the website.

The girls from 12 to 16 are from Middletown and say they were stroked or had consensual sex with men who turned out to be older than they claimed. Middletown Police Sgt. Bill McKenna said that none of the incidents appeared to be violent.

He said it was difficult to conclude the exact number of victims because some girls have been hesitant to reveal that they met their assailants online.

In a statement Thursday, MySpace.com said it was committed to providing a safe environment for its users. The site, which includes safety tips, also forbids use by anyone under the age of 14, though a disclaimer says the people who run the site can’t always tell if users are being honest about their age or not.

The social networking Web site allows users to create profiles that can include photos, personal information and even cell phone numbers.