Facebook To Protect The Kiddies
Fri, 09 May 2008
Facebook has agreed to add up to 40 new safeguards to protect children using its site from bullies and ‘sexual predators’.
The news, coming out of the US, is in response to the growing unease that social networking sites are not doing enough to ensure the safety of kids using the service. Just a few months ago, a UK government report proposed that Facebook, MySpace and others carry ‘999’ emergency numbers for quick reporting of on-site abuse.
This time around, the safeguards are the result of Facebook working with the attorney generals of 49 US states, and will cover things like better age and ID tools, pop-up warning messages when kids try to share personal information, and stricter monitoring of porn sites and links being exchanged by users.
Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal said:
“The agreement marks another milestone step for social-networking safety - protecting kids from online predators and pornography.”
While I appreciate the efforts I can't help but think that considering the hundreds of millions of people already using sites like Facebook, that the wolves are already among the sheep.-Martin Lynch
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