Alert: MySpace Organizing Task Force to Protect Kids

In an effort to protect children from adult content and exposure to sexual predators, MySpace recently announced an agreement with Attorneys General from 49 states and the District of Columbia to organize a task force that will develop safety tools for the social networking website.

One of MySpace's top priorities is creating a device that will verify the age and identity of online users. While the company currently checks sex offender registries and keeps profiles of 14 and 15 year olds closed to strangers, they will:

• Keep private the profiles of 16 and 17 year old users
• Run ads to advise parents of Internet safety measures
• Test parental screening software
• Possibly add a registry for parents to bar their children from joining MySpace
• Acknowledge complaints about content within 24 hours

Along with MySpace, other social networking websites will be asked to participate in this task force.

Take Action Today!

The National Coalition applauds MySpace's spirit of cooperation and agreement to organize a task force to help protect children from sexual content and predators on social networking websites.

To show your support, write MySpace and encourage them to continue working towards technology that can confirm the age and identity of website users. Tell them you are confident the safeguards and measures they are currently implementing will help you protect your child. Send your letter of support to:

After your letter is in the mail, engage in open and honest dialogue with your children regarding proper Internet use. It is critical to share safe use practices with teens to ensure they are protected online. These policies can include:

• Not sharing personal information online
• Not using vulgar or sexually explicit language
• Not posting photos
• Not sharing password with others

Stay Connected

For more information on protecting your children online, join iCare...about protecting children. iCare is a nationwide prayer movement initiated by the National Coalition. By joining this important movement free of charge, you will receive bi-monthly iCare eNews updates and specific prayers to lift up for the month on behalf of the nation’s children.

Click here to join now!