MySpace.com Posts Safety Ads

News Corp. Recognizes the Problem

Published on April 12, 2006 By Larry Kuperman In Internet

"1 in 5 kids online is sexually solicited. Online predators know what they're doing. Do you?" read the public service ads that began running Monday.

I hate to post just quotes, but in this case the story says it all.

"Some 22 percent of users are registered as under 18, according to MySpace.

The site forbids minors 13 and under from joining and provides special protections for those 14 and 15 -- only those on their friends' list can view their profiles.

The company uses a computer program that analyzes user profiles and flags members likely to be under 14. Hundreds of thousands of flagged profiles have been deleted, the company has said.

Still, children regularly lie about their age to get around those restrictions.

Last month, two men were arrested in what prosecutors said were the first federal sex charges involving MySpace. Two Connecticut girls involved in that case were 11 and 14, the FBI said."

They have taken what I think are appropriate steps. (BTW, I am the father of two kids, I encourage my kids to be on the Internet, but I go on with them. Well, I did in the early days...my son is 18 now.) You can't expect MySpace or AOL or JoeUser for that matter to parent for you. YOU should know what your kids are doing and educate them.

Comments

ZubaZ

on Apr 12, 2006

Thanks for the post Koop. It's nice to see that the disease that is MySpace is doing the best they can to assist parents.

We have had policy in place at our house that everyone is entitled to privacy, not secrecy.
The corellated rule is that if we think the kids are being secretive on the internet we will look at their browser history and see where they have been. And we better have the passwords for any sites we may hit. And if there are any gaps in the browser history . . . or content we don't approve of . . . .someone is grounded.

Jafo

on Apr 12, 2006

One of the 'things' I particularly am aware of is the age-spread of members here at Wincustomize.com .....so I tend to keep a watchful eye [as much as is possible] on interaction that may ring 'alarm bells'.

It's the world we live in....and as adults we all have a responsibility to look out for those who may be at risk.

So, we do....

Moderateman

on Apr 12, 2006

good article kupe, safety begins at home with the parents, but it is good to know places like myspace are stepping up some.

on Apr 12, 2006

It's one thing when you are not a 'parent' of people using your site, it's quite another to look away and ignore criminal activities on your own site. I'm glad myspace is actually doing something.

starkers

on Apr 12, 2006

It's one thing when you are not a 'parent' of people using your site, it's quite another to look away and ignore criminal activities on your own site. I'm glad myspace is actually doing something.

Exactly what I was saying in the other thread Myspace is a Disease....the community as a whole needs to take responsibility for child safety. Parents can't have eyes everywhere to monitor their kids 24-7, so places like MySpace and the authorities need also to be vigilant of inappropriate behaviour and act on it accordingly.

It's a good thing to see MySpace actually doing something positive about it, but more is needed from governments to protect children, especially in my neck of the woods. Kids as young as 10 - 12 can leave home if they don't like the rules and so choose.....and the damned government actually assists/supports them financially and by stripping parental rights, responsibilities, controls.

Who-ever set the legal precedent for parental divorce and such child emancipation needs to be shot

joeKnowledge

on Apr 12, 2006

Myspace is a Disease... you mean Sexspace is a Disease

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