"Safety Czar" to Thwart Internet Predators
Myspace plans to thwart the Internet predators who use their site to troll for kids and teens. Recent articles have outlined the dangers of online social networking sites over the last month or so, including the rape and murder of several young women nationwide who allegedly met their assailants on the Internet.
The plan to improve security for young users includes the appointing of a "safety czar" to oversee Internet safety protocol, to educate people on Internet safety, to restrict adult access to certain chat groups, and to develop new search matrixes that will make it harder for predators to find the kids they're looking for.
But, will this actually work? Right now, many of the kids who post profiles feature photos of themselves in bathing suits, photos of themselves drinking, and in many cases, personal information that an Internet predator could use to physically locate the child or teen involved. Will these types of photos and this type of information be prohibited? And, as for restricting access to "adults," is it possible for users to lie about their age when they sign on to a social networking site?
What the Department of Justice suggests is that parents be more involved in what their kids are doing. They need to know where their kids are going online, and who they're talking to.
Of course, this may seem difficult when you've got kids or teens who resent adult supervision, but high quality Internet parental controls
We praise Myspace for the steps they're taking and encourage them to do everything they can; ultimately though nothing beats real parental supervision. Today that includes electronic supervision, too.
The plan to improve security for young users includes the appointing of a "safety czar" to oversee Internet safety protocol, to educate people on Internet safety, to restrict adult access to certain chat groups, and to develop new search matrixes that will make it harder for predators to find the kids they're looking for.
But, will this actually work? Right now, many of the kids who post profiles feature photos of themselves in bathing suits, photos of themselves drinking, and in many cases, personal information that an Internet predator could use to physically locate the child or teen involved. Will these types of photos and this type of information be prohibited? And, as for restricting access to "adults," is it possible for users to lie about their age when they sign on to a social networking site?
What the Department of Justice suggests is that parents be more involved in what their kids are doing. They need to know where their kids are going online, and who they're talking to.
Of course, this may seem difficult when you've got kids or teens who resent adult supervision, but high quality Internet parental controls
We praise Myspace for the steps they're taking and encourage them to do everything they can; ultimately though nothing beats real parental supervision. Today that includes electronic supervision, too.
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