New Internet Safety Rules For MySpace
Posted by: Joyce in safe kids, online safety program, online safety, myspace, internet safety on May 05, 2008
Morning Coffee
...small talk on the A, B, C's of child safety
Online safety gets a boost this month. MySpace, "the place for friends" is working hard to distance itself from being identified as a place for pedophiles and pornography. While we know dangers to children online lurk everywhere, the new legislation in the U.S. targets MySpace in particular.
We think it will help. Here’s what happened. On January 14 all 50 Attorneys General signed a document under which MySpace agrees to make several changes. The changes are primarily for protecting the younger kids, the minors who are members.
Some of the things MySpace has agreed to do include:
•improving software that identifies underage users.
•allowing parents to send their child's e-mail address to the site so MySpace can restrict the child from signing in.
•creating a closed "high school" section that makes it harder for adults to contact children.
•dedicating resources to educating children and parents about internet safety.
There are additional things they will do that include preventing the site from harboring child pornography rings. This will occur by MySpace obtaining and constantly updating a list of pornographic web sites and regularly severing any links between them and MySpace. MySpace is also retaining a contractor to identify and eliminate inappropriate images.
Did MySpace step up and do all this willingly? No. It strictly comes from the pressure of Federal prosecution. Several states have been seeking to sue MySpace using a lawsuit that attacked the tobacco industry for marketing a dangerous product to kids as precedent. While MySpace relented under this threat, the changes for our kids are a positive thing. Who cares today why they are making the changes. Its great they are.
For now, these changes are just for MySpace. We all know it is not the only social networking playground for pedophiles. It is just the most visible in the news. It is not any more dangerous than other social networking sites, it just gets more use with its 100 million visitors. Be smart as a parent with your child. They can be safer online if you, the parent are smart about teaching them the basics of online safety. If you're completely trusting on the internet, no matter what your age, you're endangering yourself and your child.
The old adage, “Better safe than sorry" is a good rule of thumb when on the web. And, there many better ways at safety than making more laws. However, when people are aware they're less likely to be targets. While mandated, this has got to have a positive impact on safer kids online. No matter what states, officials or MySpace do, the most important thing for you is parental guidelines, rules and controls for your child online.
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bookmark This Article We think it will help. Here’s what happened. On January 14 all 50 Attorneys General signed a document under which MySpace agrees to make several changes. The changes are primarily for protecting the younger kids, the minors who are members.
Some of the things MySpace has agreed to do include:
•improving software that identifies underage users.
•allowing parents to send their child's e-mail address to the site so MySpace can restrict the child from signing in.
•creating a closed "high school" section that makes it harder for adults to contact children.
•dedicating resources to educating children and parents about internet safety.
There are additional things they will do that include preventing the site from harboring child pornography rings. This will occur by MySpace obtaining and constantly updating a list of pornographic web sites and regularly severing any links between them and MySpace. MySpace is also retaining a contractor to identify and eliminate inappropriate images.
Did MySpace step up and do all this willingly? No. It strictly comes from the pressure of Federal prosecution. Several states have been seeking to sue MySpace using a lawsuit that attacked the tobacco industry for marketing a dangerous product to kids as precedent. While MySpace relented under this threat, the changes for our kids are a positive thing. Who cares today why they are making the changes. Its great they are.
For now, these changes are just for MySpace. We all know it is not the only social networking playground for pedophiles. It is just the most visible in the news. It is not any more dangerous than other social networking sites, it just gets more use with its 100 million visitors. Be smart as a parent with your child. They can be safer online if you, the parent are smart about teaching them the basics of online safety. If you're completely trusting on the internet, no matter what your age, you're endangering yourself and your child.
The old adage, “Better safe than sorry" is a good rule of thumb when on the web. And, there many better ways at safety than making more laws. However, when people are aware they're less likely to be targets. While mandated, this has got to have a positive impact on safer kids online. No matter what states, officials or MySpace do, the most important thing for you is parental guidelines, rules and controls for your child online.
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