MySpace Team Up With US States to Help Prevent Online Predators

[engine]

MySpace has reached an agreement with more than 45 states to change to help prevent sexual predators and others from misusing it, state officials said Monday.

Several states' attorneys general said in a statement that the huge social networking Web site has agreed to add several protections and participate in a working group to develop new technologies, including a way to verify the ages of users. Other social networking sites will be invited to participate.

MySpace Team Up With US States to Help Prevent Online Predators [nytimes.com]

[King_Fisher]

This is certainly a step in the right direction!

I happen to know a family in a near miss from an online predator...KF

[rogerd]

It's encouraging that other sites may participate. What's really needed is a standard that everyone agrees on. My only fear is that if big companies like MySpace and Facebook define the standard, tiny online communities that are part-time efforts with no revenue base might end up being encumbered by costly regulations and procedures.

[thecoalman]

I really doubt there is anyway to stop this, I even considered setting up a site myself for underages but gave up on the idea because I could think of no practical way to keep it legitiamte short of having them physically come to my location with an adult to sign up and even that has loopholes in it. The other concern I would have is that these sites will be advertising that its safe when in fact its very possible that it is not.

IMO the only way this can be prevented is by the parents in the home.

[rogerd]

I think taking reasonable precautions is about all you can do as a site owner. Establishing a standard as to what is "reasonable" is one step in improving safety while also offering some protection to site owners.

[thecoalman]

Agreed rogered but there is really no precautions you can take. You can put up all the warnings you want, require email validation etc but in the end if its a 10 year old kid saying he's 18 or an adult posing as kid there isn't a damn thing you can do about without a huge inconvenience to both you and the person wanting to sign up.