MySpace and AGs Unite for Kids
Social Networking Giant and 49 Attorneys General Reach Agreement
Social networking website MySpace has reached an agreement with 49 United States Attorneys General in an effort to keep children safer online.
On January 14, 2008, after 2 years of negotiations, social networking giant MySpace, along with 49 United States Attorneys General and the District of Columbia, announced a momentous agreement to better protect children online.
"The Key Principles of Social Networking Sites Safety" agreement includes extra precautions to ensure a safer online experience for children against cyberbullying, identity theft, pornography, predators and other issues. Specifically, the combined efforts include methods to prevent underage users from accessing MySpace, methods to protect minors from inappropriate content and contact, and will provide safety tools for all users. Such measures include development of new technology to strengthen online age and content restrictions.
Key points of the agreement include:
- A proposed email registry for children under 18-years-old, set up by a third-party. By adding children’s email addresses to the registry, parents can block children from access to social networking sites that utilize the registry.
- Implementation of “age locking”
- All MySpace profile settings for 16 and 17-year-old users will be automatically set to “private”. This measure is currently mandatory for 14 and 15-years-of-age.
- Creation of a closed "high school" section for MySpace users under 18-years-old
- Children under 18 and 21-years-of-age will be blocked from tobacco and alcohol ads
- MySpace will implement an Internet Safety Task Force comprised of businesses, non-profit organizations, technology companies and identity authentication experts, to develop and create online identity authentication tools.
- The Task Force will regularly meet with the attorneys general
- Task force will file quarterly reports with a final review by end of 2008
- MySpace will hire additional staff to oversee and review photographs and discussion groups. Violators will be removed.
- “Report Abuse” button added to forums, email and videos
- MySpace will acknowledge complaints or reports within 24 hours of receipt
- MySpace will respond to complaints showing steps taken within 72 hours
- An Independent Examiner will review and evaluate the handling of complaints
- Includes a 24-hour hotline to respond to law enforcement inquires
- Will work to support initiatives to assist law enforcement investigations and prosecutions
- Will continue to educate parents and teachers with a variety of measures including free parental monitoring software
Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott was the only attorney general who did not sign the agreement. In an open letter to MySpace CEO Chris DeWolfe, he wrote, “We believe that social-networking sites, including MySpace, do not adequately protect young users. As a result, Texas is unable to join the 'joint statement' that MySpace and other state attorneys general issued this week. We do not believe that MySpace--or any social-networking site--can adequately protect minors until an age verification system is effectively developed and implemented."
The agreement outlined above, will hopefully encourage other social networking sites to comply with the same safety measures MySpace has adopted. Although this is a first step, all adults need to work together in a combined effort in order to keep children safer online.
For more information on Internet safety, visit:
Monitor Computer Use with Zoomzaa
Cyberbullying; The Warning Signs
Sources
Joint Statement on Key Principles Social Networking Sites Safety
CNet, Texas AG: MySpace Safety Plan is Smoke and Mirrors, Caroline McCarthy, January 14, 2008
