In a move to help ensure the safety of minors populating many of the site’s nigh endless pages of profiles, MySpace introduced some new rules governing how adults become online ‘friends’ with 14- and 15- year-old users – although critics say the security provisions have more to do with protecting the site from lawsuits.
From now on, says the BBC, MySpace users 18 and older can’t make friend requests of those 15 and younger unless they already know the youngster’s full name or email address. A good start, maybe, but as more than a few have pointed out, such information is not too difficult for determined folks to find online.
News Corp.-owned MySpace has had its share of negative publicity this year over allegations that it abets sexual predators. The site is now dealing with its first lawsuit stemming from an alleged incident of sexual assault, says the AP. A 14-year-old girl seeking $30 million in damages says that a 19-year-old man lied in his MySpace profile about his age and about being a “football player” to help gain the girl’s trust.
MySpace claims “aggressive measures” to protect its members, but the site does little to verify the ages of its users – although its rules forbid kids younger than 14 to set up profiles, these regulations are routinely ignored and violations seldom policed. And if 13-year-olds have no problem giving MySpace the slip…
I am curious if anyone knows what to do with underage users on-line who do NOT have their parents permission to be there? I have a mentally impaired daughter and she is not allowed access to myspace and such at my home, nor is she allowed access at school.
It is a different story at her father’s house. Even if he is home, he is not monitoring her behavior. Why is it I cannot do anything about this legally? Why can’t I ask to have her accounts removed if I am the parent and can PROVE I am the parent?