Social networking giant MySpace has agreed with 45 states to adopt stronger methods to protect underage users from online predators.
The Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported more than 2600 incidents last year of adults using the internet to lure children.Part of the problem is the children themselves.Many of them pretend to be much older than they are. MySpace on its part requires all users to be at least 14 years of age.They also post material on the site which helps in identifying them, in spite of warnings by the site that they must not do so.Kids get a thrill out of posting all kinds of information over the net, partly because they are easily able to keep it secret from their parents who are usually not as tech savvy as they are.But they don't realize pedophiles are using social networking sites to find kids.Even though kids may not list their names and addresses they usually post enough information about their interests and hobbies for a pedophile to strike up a friendship with him or her.
In the last couple of years several teenagers have been sexually assaulted by persons whom they befriended online at one of these sites. The problem is not confined to MySpace alone but extends to all social networking sites.
Now MySpace has agreed to include various online protections, and to develop age verification and other technology to block such predators. It will also accept independent monitoring and changes to the structure of its site. The agreement is scheduled to be announced today in Manhattan.