Jun 23 2006
MySpace Adds Security
If you have not heard of MySpace, talk to your kids. MySpace has become “the place” for teens to discuss issues, swap information, meet people, and generally “hang-out.” The fact that this place only exists in the magical world of the Internet doesn’t matter; it’s the place to be.
I believe one of the things driving teens to MySpace is the level of anonymity. Teens can escape from their current existence and become someone else; if only for awhile. MySpace users swap pictures, interests, and personal information. Of course, any place where teens congregate also has the ability to attract teen predators. Add to that, the ability for predators to hide behind fake personas, and you have a recipe for disaster.
With pending lawsuits and explosive growth, MySpace has started to tighten security. The following is from Information Week:
The social-networking site, which has posted tremendous growth over the last year, has become the focus of child advocacy groups that fear MySpace.com has become a favorite of sexual predators. Concerns over the safety of teens on the site have sparked a federal proposal to bar schools and libraries from allowing children to access MySpace.com and other similar sites.
In trying to allay the public, MySpace.com, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp., put in place Wednesday added security for 14- and 15-year-old members, new options for privacy settings for all members and restrictions on ad placements to teens.
“MySpace is committed to innovating new product features to heighten online safety, particularly in the area of 14 to 15 year olds,” Hemanshu Nigam, chief security officer for MySpace.com, said in a statement. “In addition to technology innovation, MySpace remains dedicated to a multi-pronged approach that also involves education and collaboration with law enforcement, teachers, parents and members.”
Will it work?
It remains to be seen whether the additional measures would help in MySpace.com’s defense against the lawsuit filed Monday by the Austin, Texas, girl. The $30 million suit claims the 14-year-old was sexually assaulted by a 19-year-old man she met on MySpace.com, which the suit accuses of failing to do enough to protect minors against sexual predators, the Reuters news agency reported.
Lesson to parents: Always know who your kids are talking with on the Internet and never assume that “security measures†are a replacement for active parenting.
For more on protecting your kids or general MySpace issues, check out the following:
Security! MySpace Scrambles to Protect Underage Users
MySpaceSafetyTips
megfowler.com
