MySpace and AGs Unite for Kids

Social Networking Giant and 49 Attorneys General Reach Agreement

© Jace Shoemaker-Galloway

Video Gan, StockXChng

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:

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

Social Networking Concerns.

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


The copyright of the article MySpace and AGs Unite for Kids in Social Networking/Tagging is owned by Jace Shoemaker-Galloway. Permission to republish MySpace and AGs Unite for Kids must be granted by the author in writing.


Video Gan, StockXChng
Be Careful What You Publish, JShoemaker-Galloway
     


Post this Article to facebook Add this Article to del.icio.us! Digg this Article furl this Article Add this Article to Reddit Add this Article to Technorati Add this Article to Newsvine Add this Article to Windows Live Add this Article to Yahoo Add this Article to StumbleUpon Add this Article to BlinkLists Add this Article to Spurl Add this Article to Google Add this Article to Ask Add this Article to Squidoo