Switched http://www.switched.com Switched http://www.switched.com/media/feedlogo.gif Switched http://www.switched.com en-us Copyright 2008 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[New Feature Lets You Take Your MySpace Profile to Other Sites]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/myspaces-data-availability-lets-uses-share-profiles-with-twit/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/myspaces-data-availability-lets-uses-share-profiles-with-twit/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/09/myspaces-data-availability-lets-uses-share-profiles-with-twit/#commentsFiled under: ,

MySpace Launches Social networking is obviously a lot of fun, but if anything it's getting a little too popular; you can't pick a movie on Netflix or upload a picture onto Flickr these days without having to wade through a web of friend recommendations.

What's more annoying is that each network is completely disconnected -- sign up for some hot new site, pick a crew of friends, then move on to the next hot site and try to find the same crew of friends again. Annoying. MySpace is finally looking to end that with a new initiative called "data availability" that will let you take your profile with you to other profile-based sites and services, including Twitter, Photobucket, and Yahoo!.

The changes, set to go into effect in a few weeks, will let you effectively sync up your profiles at a number of partner sites with your MySpace profile. For example, on Twitter you would be able to set up Twitter to pull in your picture and other information from your MySpace profile, in real-time -- so, if you update your main pic at MySpace, it would be propagated over to Twitter as well. You'll be able to do the same with your eBay profile, creating a more informative set of information about you that will "yield a deeper connection between individuals," according to the press release.

It would also let eBay shoppers learn an awful lot about you, something that many people will be uncomfortable with. The opportunity to save time by syncing up your profiles sounds quite appealing, but making yourself more identifiable to potentially irate eBay buyers and sellers sounds a little -- unnerving. [Source: BusinessWire, via New York Times]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsebaymyspacesocial networkingSocialNetworkingtwitterFri, 09 May 2008 09:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Users Spend More Time on MySpace Despite Slipping Traffic]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/08/users-spend-more-time-on-myspace-despite-slipping-traffic/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/08/users-spend-more-time-on-myspace-despite-slipping-traffic/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/08/users-spend-more-time-on-myspace-despite-slipping-traffic/#commentsFiled under: ,

Social networking is one of the biggest Internet phenomenons of the last few years, and it's still MySpace that dominates the online social networking landscape, according to Web measurement firm Hitwise.

As reported in ReadWriteWeb, MySpace takes the top traffic prize with 73.82 percent of all social networking traffic. Facebook only garners 14.8 percent of social networking traffic. Other sites take no more than two percent share, so this is really a tale of two brands.

The real story here, however, isn't who is on top traffic-wise but how long that traffic stays on a site. So, while traffic has slipped for MySpace by five percent during the last year, the average amount of time active MySpace members spend on the site has increased by a whopping 73 percent. So that means the members who do stick around really, really do stick around. [Source: ReadWriteWeb]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsFacebookrankingssocial networkingSocialNetworkingThu, 08 May 2008 11:23:00 EST<![CDATA[Pope Sending Text Messages to Australians]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/07/the-pope-is-texting-myspacing/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/07/the-pope-is-texting-myspacing/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/07/the-pope-is-texting-myspacing/#commentsFiled under: , ,

The Pope is Texting, MySpacingWhen the Pope arrived on our shores last month, much of the nation was subject to the pomp and fanfare that surrounded his every move. Now the Pope is making a trip Down Under for Sydney's World Youth Day next month, and those who can't watch him live (or online) will be able to follow the Pontiff via SMS.

The Pope (or one of his lackeys) will be sending "daily messages of inspiration" to the phones of thousands of Catholics during the event, which despite being called "World Youth Day," actually covers an entire week.

The Catholic church will also be setting up a social networking site similar to MySpace or Facebook, enabling believers to hook up -- and pray, of course. [Source: I4U/Reuters, via Textually.org]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewsfacebookpopesmstext messagingTextMessagingWed, 07 May 2008 09:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Alicia Keys Using MySpace to Find Backup Singers]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/05/alicia-keys-using-myspace-to-find-backup-singers/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/05/alicia-keys-using-myspace-to-find-backup-singers/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/05/alicia-keys-using-myspace-to-find-backup-singers/#commentsFiled under: ,

Alicia Keys Using MySpace to Find Backup SingersMySpace isn't just a place for booty calls and sexual predators -- pop stars also use it as a recruiting tool for their international touring bands. Okay,sp usually they don't, but Alicia Keys must be really stuck for backup singers.

Alicia Keys wants aspiring R&B and soul singers to send 30-second videos of themselves singing, a cappella, to Keys's MySpace account. The winner will then join Keys' tour as it hops around the globe. The requirements are pretty basic: Be a 21-to-30-year-old woman with a valid passport, have some experience singing R&B and/or soul, and make sure you're physically fit enough to dance.

If you meet those minimum qualifications, then head on over and send in your video resume. We're pretty sure MySpace has fixed that whole virus problem by now. [Source: MySpace, Via: Reuters]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alicia keysAliciaKeysbreaking newsBreakingNewsmusicsocial networkingSocialNetworkingMon, 05 May 2008 09:03:00 EST<![CDATA[In UK, Children Posing As Pedophiles Online to Frighten Classmates]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/02/in-uk-children-posing-as-pedophiles-online-to-frighten-classmat/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/02/in-uk-children-posing-as-pedophiles-online-to-frighten-classmat/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/02/in-uk-children-posing-as-pedophiles-online-to-frighten-classmat/#commentsFiled under: ,


The Inquirer reports that British youths are signing online to sites such as Bebo and MSN and posing as middle aged pedophiles to scare classmates. Investigators thought that the reports of children being harassed were of the standard dirty-old-sexual-predator variety, but in nine separate cases, they found that the supposed pedophiles were actually classmates of the children attempting to scare them or settle rivalries.

The development is disturbing, but it does show a level of awareness and cleverness that we often assume children are incapable of. [Source: The Inquirer, Vva: Boing Boing]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>crimesocial-networkingFri, 02 May 2008 08:06:00 EST<![CDATA[MySpace Launches Karaoke Service]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/05/01/myspace-launches-karaoke-service/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/01/myspace-launches-karaoke-service/http://www.switched.com/2008/05/01/myspace-launches-karaoke-service/#commentsFiled under: , ,

MySpace Launches Karaoke Service

Our first thoughts upon hearing about MySpace Karaoke were, "Didn't April Fool's Day already pass?" and "Oh God, no." Eventually our utter horror passed just long enough to do some research on this beta service from the company that is trying to ruin personal relationships. The scariest thing we found? It has competitors!

MySpace Karaoke works like this -- first you decide that you are ready to shed all self respect and dignity, then you pick a song from MySpace's catalog of two-or-three thousand licensed tracks to sing along to, and, just like karaoke in any cheesy bar you've frequented, the words scroll across the screen for you to warble along to. The fun part comes when you decide to record and share your complete lack of tunefulness with your unsuspecting MySpace public. You can post your tracks as bulletins, embed them right in your profile, or just save them as favorite tracks. MySpace will let you store up to 10 tracks for free, any more than that will incur a small fee.

We're not anti-karaoke per se, we just think it should be confined to black out drunk nights at trashy bars. [Source: MySpace Karaoke, Via: BetaNews]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewskaraokemusicsocial networkingSocialNetworkingThu, 01 May 2008 09:25:00 EST<![CDATA[GetBack.com Leads Visitors Back In Time]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/24/getback-com-leads-visitors-back-in-time/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/24/getback-com-leads-visitors-back-in-time/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/24/getback-com-leads-visitors-back-in-time/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Do you have a nostalgia addiction? Are your best moments those spent singing Def Leppard and Twisted Sister karaoke at the top of your lungs? Do you scour eBay for signed photos of The Fonz, and cry tears of joy when you inevitably win? Do you actively miss high school?

Well, have we got the site for you. Getback.com is a destination for all things retro: essentially a multimedia social networking site (think: MySpace), it attempts to chronicle the most memorable pop-culture events of the '60s, '70s, and '80s ... and allow you to chat longingly about them with your friends. There are separate channels (Music, Movies, Games, Life & Style), each packed with various audio/visual content.

"We set out to create a social media experience that will resonate with pop culture enthusiasts of all ages. We are creating a feel good experience for our users: listening to music, looking at album art, remembering their favorite films, playing games," states Chris Dominguez, President, of GetBack Media. "We developed GetBack to connect users to a digital reincarnation of year's past in an emotional and impactful way."

Our tour of the site included precisely one listen to Harold Faltermeyer's Axel F, one This Day in 1972 (including John Lennon's attempt to form his own country, Newtopia), and a joyride through a chunk of the 1980's Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) library. You can even browse by year: click on 1986, for example, and you'll find blurbs about The Kids in the Hall, the price of jeans, and Boy George guest starring on an episode of the A-Team.

The site has some major backers -- Getty Images, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, All Media Guide, and Intellivision (to name a few) -- so there's no dearth of content.

Now, make with the reliving your glory years. [Source Getback.com]
Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking newsBreakingNewslaunchsocial networkingSocialNetworkingThu, 24 Apr 2008 17:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Woman Sleeps With 50 Men From Facebook "I Need Sex" Group]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/12/woman-sleeps-with-50-men-from-facebook-i-need-sex-group/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/12/woman-sleeps-with-50-men-from-facebook-i-need-sex-group/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/12/woman-sleeps-with-50-men-from-facebook-i-need-sex-group/#commentsFiled under: ,

Woman Sleeps with 50 Men from Facebook
Those with insatiable sexual appetites used to have to go to underground swingers clubs, key parties, or put ads in the newspaper, but then the Internet happened and the super-randy started to hook up 24/7, first via instant messaging programs, then via dating/sex sites and Craigslist. Now, of course, they have Facebook and MySpace Technically, these sites are just for making friends, not for quick hook-ups, and the rules strictly forbid nudity and sexual solicitation, but every now and then, the ultra-horny go a little 'Craigslist personals' on Facebook's ass.

Take Laura Michaels of Bristol, England, who, according to the UK's Sun newspaper, created a Facebook group called "I Need Sex." Within 10 minutes, 35 men had joined the group. After an hour, 100 men had joined. She invited the men to contact her and met up in person with those she liked. In the end, Michaels slept with 50 men in total from the Facebook group, which, for those of you who are slow, is literally half of the group.

"I Need Sex" has since been taken down, but Laura has no regrets. She says that she was satisfying her own desires, despite what other people may think of her. All we can say is "kudos".

From Newsvine

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebooksexSat, 12 Apr 2008 11:21:00 EST<![CDATA[MySpace to Launch Joint Music Venture With Major Labels]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/07/myspace-to-launch-joint-music-venture-with-major-labels/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/07/myspace-to-launch-joint-music-venture-with-major-labels/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/07/myspace-to-launch-joint-music-venture-with-major-labels/#commentsFiled under:





MySpace, the popular social networking site, has come up with a creative solution to a lawsuit filed by Universal Music Group. Instead of just settling with Universal, Myspace (owned by News Corp) announced a new joint business venture with three major record labels: Warner, Sony BMG and Universal.

The company will be called Myspace Music and will launch in July or August of this year. It will be owned by News Corp and the three labels, with an initial investment of $120 million distributed among the labels. The new service will include the streaming rights to the entire catalogs of the three labels, as well as a DRM-free online music store. Users will also have access to an improved music player that supports the creation of playlists, in addition to the increased amount of streaming music available for their profiles. The venture will redistribute ad revenues to the labels based on their stake in the company, not based on the number of plays their copyrighted material. The advertisements will initially be display ads, but may move to an audio format embedded in streaming music files at a later date.

All in all, it sounds like good news for MySpace users and bands, with greater availability of music to stream and a proper company to promote the bands on the Myspace Records label. The deal also serves as a reminder that the record companiwa are no longer counting on getting paid directly for the music they hold copyrights to, and points toward an ad-supported future business model. Looks like MySpace will be trying to cram a few more ads into their crowded interface soon, but we don't mind as long as we can listen to whatever music we want for free.

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>online musicOnlineMusicsocial-networkingMon, 07 Apr 2008 08:11:00 EST<![CDATA[50 Cent Launches MySpace-Like Social Networking Site]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/04/02/50-cent-launches-myspace-like-social-networking-site/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/02/50-cent-launches-myspace-like-social-networking-site/http://www.switched.com/2008/04/02/50-cent-launches-myspace-like-social-networking-site/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Never one to miss a marketing opportunity, rapper Curtis Jackson, a.k.a. 50 Cent, has opened the doors to his new social networking site, ThisIs50.com.

Sorta like MySpace for the G-Unit set (wait, isn't MySpace for the G-Unit set?), the site features embedded videos and music players, along with plenty of G-Unit marketing fodder mixed in for good measure. ("You have two new messages in your inbox! Also, buy Lloyd Banks' new album!")

Of course, Jackson is no newcomer to the world of cross-promotional opportunities. With a clothing line, sports drink, and videogame (along with its forthcoming sequel) under his belt, the G-Unit new media empire continues to expand.

And yet still, he lets his 7 year-old cousin create the site. WTF, dude.

From TechDigest

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>50 cent50Centbreaking+newsmusicsocial-networkingtopWed, 02 Apr 2008 15:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Radiohead Invites Fans to Make Its Next Music Video]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/19/radiohead-invites-fans-to-make-its-next-music-video/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/19/radiohead-invites-fans-to-make-its-next-music-video/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/19/radiohead-invites-fans-to-make-its-next-music-video/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



After releasing its last album, In Rainbows, as a pay-what-you-like download last year, Radiohead is holding a little contest: the winner gets $10,000 -- and the chance to make the band's next video.

Along with online animation studio Aniboom, Radiohead will be searching the world for someone fit to create a full-length music video for the band. They're asking contestants to submit storyboard treatments for the video that which will then be judged by Aniboom, Radiohead's label TBD Records, Adult Swim, and voters on MySpace.

All ten of the chosen semi-finalists will be awarded $1,000 each to produce one-minute versions of their videos; from those one-minute clips, the band will choose the best and award another $10,000 to produce a full-length video.

So make with the idea-having, young acolytes.

From AlleyInsider

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>musicradioheadWed, 19 Mar 2008 09:39:00 EST<![CDATA[Facebook to Add Instant Messaging]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/17/facebook-to-add-instant-messaging/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/17/facebook-to-add-instant-messaging/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/17/facebook-to-add-instant-messaging/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Facebook Hopping on the Instant Messaging Bandwagon
It was bound to happen eventually (if for no other reason than MySpace did it first) -- Facebook is finally offering up an instant-messaging service. Ironically, Facebook's new IM service may have the effect of killing off a couple of chat applications already available on the social-networking site.

Initial rumors claimed that the new Facebook IM service, which is to be embedded into people's profiles, would be based on Jabber, the same standard underlying Google Talk. This would have meant that other IM programs, such as Pidgin, Meebo, or even Google Talk, could connect to the Facebook service easily and bring it to the desktop. These rumors, of course, turned out to be false, and Facebook IM, at least initially, will only be available on Facebook pages.

With MSN Messenger, Yahoo!, AIM, Skype, Gizmo, and Google Talk already clogging the Internet, we're pretty confident we don't need any more new IM services. Especially not ones that can only be accessed on the Web by logging into a separate place from all your other IM services. But if Facebook ever manages to get all the other IM programs to work with its IM service, then it might become an attractive online chat place indeed.

From TechCrunch

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AIMAOLfacebookfacebook appsFacebookAppsgoogle talkGoogleTalkgtalkiminstant messagingInstantMessagingMSN MessengerMsnMessengermyspaceskypeYahoo!Mon, 17 Mar 2008 12:01:00 EST<![CDATA[New Service Asks You To Sell Things to Your Facebook Friends]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/13/new-lets-you-sell-things-to-your-facebook-friends/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/13/new-lets-you-sell-things-to-your-facebook-friends/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/13/new-lets-you-sell-things-to-your-facebook-friends/#commentsFiled under: ,

Market Lodge Lets You Sell Things to Your Facebook Friends
Companies have been trying to figure out ways to generate revenue from social networks, though so far, they have had a tough time of it. Even Google and News Corp. are struggling with monetizing sites like MySpace.

A company called bSocial Media is trying a new approach: Don't advertise, get people to recommend products directly to others in their social networks. A previous version of their strategy involved the now reviled Beacon program at Facebook that tracked users' surfing and purchasing habits. Following a rebellion against Beacon by users, bSocial was forced to go back to the drawing board.

What they came up with is Market Lodge, a Facebook application that lets users create custom stores similar to Amazon's Associate Program. Facebookers can earn a 10 percent commission on anything sold through their Market Lodge.

Market Lodge currently has a stable of 1,200 products from over 50 retailers, though the vast majority of those products are world-music CDs and Yoga DVDs.

We have to guess that Market Lodge will fail to spark some revenue generating revolution on the social network. People are usually unwilling to openly shill for products to their friends, especially when the products are the sort of thing sold at 3 A.M. on basic cable. To make matters worse, after an hour of trying to use the new Facebook application, we were unable to even get a Market Lodge Store successfully created.

From USA Today

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>facebookmarket lodgeMarketLodgesocialThu, 13 Mar 2008 18:52:00 EST<![CDATA[68% of Americans Suffer from 'Disconnect Anxiety']]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/12/68-of-americans-suffer-from-disconnect-anxiety/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/12/68-of-americans-suffer-from-disconnect-anxiety/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/12/68-of-americans-suffer-from-disconnect-anxiety/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

68% of Americans Suffer from 'Disconnect Anxiety'
According to a recent study by the Solutions Research Group (Warning: PDF file), Americans just can't stand to be out of touch. According to the survey, 68 percent of Americans suffer from at least occasional disconnect anxiety when away from the computer or cell phone. The participants' feelings when away from the 'net range from general discomfort to inadequacy and panic.

Some other interesting statistics: Only 37 percent of laptop users frequently log on from their bed rooms, but 63 percent of Blackberry users admitted to using their device of choice while in the "washroom." That last number seemed particularly disturbing to our pals over at Engadget, but we'll be the first to admit that entire articles on Switched have been written from the comfort of the porcelain throne (desk?), which really just goes to show how terrified of being disconnected we are.

From Engadget

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cell phoneCellPhoneconnecteddisconnect anxietyDisconnectAnxietye-mailinternetmobileresearchsurveyWed, 12 Mar 2008 15:12:00 EST<![CDATA[Death Toll For Internet Teen Suicides Hits 17]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/11/string-of-welsh-teen-suicides-continues/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/11/string-of-welsh-teen-suicides-continues/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/11/string-of-welsh-teen-suicides-continues/#commentsFiled under:

Bebo Wales Internet Suicide Pact


After the body of a teenage girl was found hanging in the woods of a Welsh village last Tuesday, media attention is once again focused on the only thing seeming to link the suicides together -- the Internet.

When the body of Jenna Parry was found, it marked the 17th young suicide in just over a year near the town of Bridgend, South Wales (pictured, above). Though no evidence has been found of a suicide pact (or any sort of "cult" responsible for the series of deaths), nearly all of the victims used a social networking Web site -- similar to MySpace and the like -- called Bebo, that's popular with young British children.

The string of deaths began with Dale Crole, an 18-year-old who hanged himself at an abandoned warehouse on Jan. 5, 2007. His friend David Dilling, 19, took police to the scene. Then, just a few weeks later, Dilling died the same way. A week later the boys' friend Thomas Davies, 20, hanged himself in a local park. And so it has continued.

The Internet has been a recurring theme in the hangings. Most (possibly all) of the victims were members of Bebo, and many of them posted messages on the public memorial pages of those who preceded them in suicide.

"I'm sure they all knew each other," Ferdinand, 14, who lives near Parry's house, told Newsweek. "I knew six of them myself. I've been on some of their personal pages on Bebo, and they were talking about 'I don't think I can cope with it,' and 'I'm going to end it.' I didn't think they'd really do it."

As we reported earlier this year, it's believed by some that the friends were all trying to gain notoriety with their own memorial pages.

Sad to say, but the Internet has long been a breeding ground for group suicides -- just three years ago, an Oregon man was arrested for organizing a mass suicide pact -- but this is the first time that such trends have hit the social-networking space. Given that Facebook employees seem to have the ability to see whose profiles you've looked at, or keep personal profiles after they're deleted, it would follow that at least this lack of privacy would help catch potential suicides in their tracks before anything tragic occurs.

From CNN

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bebointernet suicideInternetSuicidesocial networkingSocialNetworkingTue, 11 Mar 2008 12:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Student Faces Expulsion Over Facebook Study Group]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/03/07/student-faces-expulsion-over-facebook-study-group/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/07/student-faces-expulsion-over-facebook-study-group/http://www.switched.com/2008/03/07/student-faces-expulsion-over-facebook-study-group/#commentsFiled under: ,

Using a Facebook group is not the same as face to face collaboration on schoolwork, according to administrators at Toronto's Ryerson University.

Facebook logo.Case in point: a freshman student faces expulsion for setting up an online study group via Facebook last semester. The professor for the class claims this lead to cheating and not just normal study group help. The student, Chris Avenir, says the online activity is no different than a group of students gathering in person to give each other advice on how to complete their chemistry homework assignments.

Avenir faces 146 counts of academic misconduct, one for each of the classmates who signed up for the Facebook group he set up last term, plus one additional count for setting up the group in the first place.

Oddly enough, students are permitted to meet in person to help each other with assignments. The name of the group itself -- Dungeons/Mastering Chemistry Solutions - is based on the actual room in an academic building where his classmates would typically meet for study sessions.

Is this simply a case of scale, where the numbers and accessibility of the online activity gives students an unfair advantage, or were they really cheating?

The professor seems to think the latter, having changed Avenir's grade from a B to an F after learning of the Facebook activity and recommending the student's expulsion. Avenir will have a chance to defend the group, which he says is simply the modern version of study hall for the "wired generation."

That argument may be more readily received by a computer science professor than a chemistry professor, it seems.

Students at other schools have previously been disciplined or expelled for Web sites or Facebook pages that criticize or threaten other students and their schools, but the is the first time we've heard of a student being punished for encouraging fellow classmates to study more.

From The Toronto Star.



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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>canadacheatdefendexpelfacebookgradepunishryersonsocial networkingSocialNetworkingstudentFri, 07 Mar 2008 19:11:00 EST<![CDATA[Harvard Scholars Head Up 'Net Safety Task Force]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/29/harvard-scholars-head-up-net-safety-task-force/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/29/harvard-scholars-head-up-net-safety-task-force/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/29/harvard-scholars-head-up-net-safety-task-force/#commentsFiled under:

MyspaceOver the course of the next year, Internet scholars at Harvard University will form a task force to explore how children can avoid unwanted contact and content when surfing the Web. And when we say surfing the Web, we mean spending countless hours on MySpace, Facebook, and other social networking sites.

They're calling it the Internet Safety Technical Task Force (catchy, no?), and it comes after an agreement between MySpace and all state attorneys general (except Texas'!) in January. It will be comprised of of leading Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and non-profit groups.

MySpace actually created the task force, choosing Harvard's Berkman Center for Internet and Society to run it, but the group will apparently operate independently. Keep in mind, however, that this is the magical world of Rupert Murdoch, where Fox News runs completely independently of News Corp.

And when we say "runs completely independently," of course, we mean "doesn't at all run independently whatsoever, like, not even a little bit."

From USA Today

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Securitysocial networkingSocialNetworkingFri, 29 Feb 2008 09:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Bill Gates Joins LinkedIn]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/28/bill-gates-joins-linkedin/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/28/bill-gates-joins-linkedin/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/28/bill-gates-joins-linkedin/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Bill Gates Joins LinkedIn
Bill Gates joins the likes of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as a highly public figure utilizing the career-oriented social networking site LinkedIn to allow others to connect with him and ask questions.

Following Microsoft's investment in Facebook, Gates also set up a profile on the more casual site, but has admitted that he doesn't use the profile any more because he grew tired of fending off literally thousands of friend requests from complete strangers. LinkedIn, on the other hand, offers filtering options, limiting how people outside your immediate network are able to connect to you.

Gates says he plans to use the profile to help draw attention to LinkedIn's new cleaner and more customizable design and answer questions, such as how to best encourage young people to pursue careers in science and technology.

From AOL News

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>bill gatesBillGatesfacebooklinked inLinkedInmicrosoftThu, 28 Feb 2008 15:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Teen Catches Mugger on MySpace]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/28/teen-catches-cell-phone-thief-on-myspace/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/28/teen-catches-cell-phone-thief-on-myspace/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/28/teen-catches-cell-phone-thief-on-myspace/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Teen Catches Cell Phone Thief on MySpacePicture this: you're walking down a busy city street chatting on your cell phone when someone runs up behind you, grabs your phone, and runs off. What do you do? Call the police (from someone else's phone)? Shrug your shoulders and be glad that's all they took? Or, do you do what 16-year-old Yudelka Polanco did: go on MySpace and start doing some digital sleuthing.

After Polanco got a new phone to replace her stolen one she realized that her assailant had used her old phone with its SIM card in there, which identifies the phone as hers and stores her address book and history. When she activated her new phone, her provider sync'd up her information and the thief's online activity, including his e-mail address, showed up. She then proceeded to search for the mugger's e-mail address on MySpace and got a hit.

But, the profile was private, so she got a friend to chat him up and get added to his friend's list. Once able to get inside the profile she was able to see more pictures of the guy in question, enough to make an identification. That was enough for the police who, presented with this evidence, arrested 16-year-old Victor Hernandez for the crime.

So, proof that crime doesn't pay, but MySpace does!

From wcbstv.com

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cell phonesCellPhonesMySpaceTheftThu, 28 Feb 2008 14:51:00 EST<![CDATA[21% Of Babies Have Social Network Profiles]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/28/21-of-babies-have-social-network-profiles/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/28/21-of-babies-have-social-network-profiles/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/28/21-of-babies-have-social-network-profiles/#commentsFiled under: ,

21% Of Babies Have Social Network Profiles, More Friends than YouChances are you're starting to tire of the whole social networking scene. If so, you're not alone. Finding and connecting with friends was fun at first, but before long the whole experience just turns into kooky pictures of people you still don't keep in touch with. That said, there are still plenty of people out there who are new to the social networking scene -- very, very new.

A survey from research firm Orange claims that 21% of babies have their own pages on social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace. The pages were created by their parents who use them as a way to post pictures and stories to share those defining babyhood moments with all their friends -- friends who can post comments like "Awww!" and "How cute!" every now and again.

From Ubergizmo

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>babyFacebookMySpaceThu, 28 Feb 2008 13:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Boycotting Sellers Dent eBay's Business]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/25/boycotting-sellers-dent-ebays-business/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/25/boycotting-sellers-dent-ebays-business/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/25/boycotting-sellers-dent-ebays-business/#commentsFiled under: ,

Boycotting Sellers Dent eBay's Business
Auction site eBay has been suffering at the hands of an online protest over a change in how it charges sellers for listing and selling goods. The change has resulted in a substantial increase in costs for sellers.

The changes lowered the initial fees for sellers to list items on eBay, but increased the commission charged on completed sales. Additionally, the feedback system was altered to eliminate the negative feedback on buyers option, making it tougher to weed out sneaky or dishonest buyers.

eBay has faced boycotts before, but none approaching the scale of the current one. Thanks to protest related activities on sites such as MySpace and Facebook, eBay sellers have been able to better organize and encourage each other to stick with the boycott.

Since the boycott started on February 18,, listings on eBay have dropped 13 percent to about 13 million items. Nancy Baughman, an eBay retailer taking part in the strike, says if she and the other activists can get the number of listings down to 12 million, then they will have made a very significant dent in the online auction house's business.



From USA Today

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>boycottebayfacebookmyspaceproteststrikeMon, 25 Feb 2008 18:11:00 EST<![CDATA[French President's Desperate Text-Message Turned Into a Pop Song]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/22/french-presidents-naughty-txt-turned-into-a-song/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/22/french-presidents-naughty-txt-turned-into-a-song/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/22/french-presidents-naughty-txt-turned-into-a-song/#commentsFiled under: , ,



French President Nicolas Sarkozy once again is finding himself in a pretty sticky situation, this time thanks to leaked cell-phone text message and some creative musicians. Last week, it was reported that just eight days before his marriage to Italian model-turned-popstar Carla Bruni, Sarkozy text messaged his ex-wife Cecilia, begging her to return to him.

"If you come back, I'll cancel everything," said the SMS message.

Though the French prez has denied the story and filed suit against the media outlet that originally ran the story, he's out of luck because the story just wont die. In fact, French pop act Jeanne Cherhal has turned the now-infamous text message into a song, 'Si tu Reviens,' and posted it on her MySpace page.

Will Sarkozy sue her too? Probably not, but it does add more fodder for gossip blogs, and, thanks to mobile technology, gadget blogs such as this one!


From Textually.org

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>carla bruniCarlaBruniceciliaembarassingjeanne cherhalJeanneCherhalmusicmyspacenicolas sarkozyNicolasSarkozypoliticssmstext messagingTextMessagingFri, 22 Feb 2008 13:25:00 EST<![CDATA[Friending On MySpace Violates Restraining Orders]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/21/friending-on-myspace-violates-restraining-orders/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/21/friending-on-myspace-violates-restraining-orders/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/21/friending-on-myspace-violates-restraining-orders/#commentsFiled under: ,

Friending on MySpace Violates Restraining Orders
It's official: Stalking on MySpace or Facebook is just as illegal as stalking in real life. A judge on Staten Island (Shaolin represent!) has ruled that a teenager violated a restraining order against her when she friended a woman on MySpace.

The story begins last year when Melisa Fernino, now 16-years-old, was accused of making violent threats against a 43-year-old woman who had dated her father. Fernino also made violent threats against the woman's two daughters. The woman obtained a restraining order and a judge instructed Fernino not to contact the woman or her daughters.

And that was that... until Melisa tracked down the object of her hatred on the MySpace. Melisa simply sent her victim a "friend request' on the popular social-networking site, which obviously made the woman uncomfortable. So, the shaken 43-year-old complained to the judge, who ruled yesterday that requesting a person's friendship on MySpace (and, by extension, Facebook) still constitutes contact and is therefore a violation of the restraining order.

So, if you feel like you're being stalked or intimidated online, then you can rest assured that there is now a legal precedent to press charges. Don't hesitate to complain.

From Machinist

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking+newsfriendinglawmyspaceprivacyrestraining orderRestrainingOrdersocial-networkingstaten islandStatenIslandtopThu, 21 Feb 2008 11:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Country Pop Singer B.J. Thomas Hooked on MySpace and iTunes]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/20/country-pop-singer-b-j-thomas-hooked-on-myspace-and-itunes/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/20/country-pop-singer-b-j-thomas-hooked-on-myspace-and-itunes/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/20/country-pop-singer-b-j-thomas-hooked-on-myspace-and-itunes/#commentsFiled under: , ,



First launched to musical success in 1966 with his cover version of Hank Williams' classic I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, B.J. Thomas explored pop and country music. Two years later, he released Hooked On a Feeling. Next, he collaborated with legendary producers and song-writers Burt Bacharach and Hal David on Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head, Thomas' biggest hit. He's still recording today, and his newest album, Love to Burn, came out just last year. B.J. Thomas took time to tell us about his technology interests.

What gadgets do you always bring with you to the set (for down-time?

I always have my cell phone and my iPod. I call all of my loved ones before and after every show.


What cell phone do you have right now and what do you love/hate about it?

I have a Motorola Sliver...However my assistant has a Treo and I don't know what we would do with out it.

Who's the last person you sent a text message to and what was it about?

My Daughter ...about her Daughter.


Where do you go (site or service) pretty much every time you get online?

I am on iTunes and Myspace quit a bit. I have a Myspace page for my music and a growing I tunes library.


What annoys you most about your iPod, cell phone, or laptop?

Sometimes I feel like they have a mind of their own.


Name one thing you wish your iPod/cellphone/laptop could do that it doesn't do now?

Bring peace to the world. I know that is a lot to ask of a phone or an Ipod.


What upcoming gadget can you not wait to get your hands on?

I am not sure yet. We will have to see what comes out.


You're stranded on a desert island: What gadget do you bring?

My phone.......so I could call for help.....I have great coverage.


What's the most-played song or artist on your iPod?

I am really into some great singers right now. Ana Carolina and Ivan Lins.


Blackberry, Sidekick, or Treo?

Treo


Are you getting an iPhone-if so, why?

I don't know maybe. It sure would be nice to have an all-in-one type of device.


What's the longest time you've ever spent playing a video game in one sitting and what game was it?

I have never been into Video Games.


Mac or PC?

PC It really helps with day to day business aspect of my music.

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>MusicSwitched QuestionnaireSwitchedQuestionnaireThe Switched QuestionnaireTheSwitchedQuestionnaireWed, 20 Feb 2008 19:08:00 EST<![CDATA[Gangs Using Social Networks to Recruit Members]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/08/gangs-using-social-networks-to-recruit-members/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/08/gangs-using-social-networks-to-recruit-members/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/08/gangs-using-social-networks-to-recruit-members/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Gangs using social networks to recruit

According the recent reports, social networking sites like MySpace and even YouTube are being used as recruitment tools by gangs.

"We're seeing our gangs and the resurgence of some of the gang members coming back from prison looking more and more to those middle schoolers and the younger kids to recruit them," said San Mateo Police Chief Susan Manheimer. Manheimer said kids get into discussions in the comments sections of these sites, which is where much of the recruitment has been taking place.

Youth counselor Alejandro Vilchez says teaching kids how to stay out of gangs in real life will help them avoid the online propaganda as well.

"It's really no different than the way Hitler recruited Hitler youth with the pageantry and the uniforms and the messages of unity and sacrifice and honor," said Vilchez. "It's the same messages that you seen on these gang websites."

Some tips from Mr. Vilchez: keep computers in common rooms, and closely monitor websites and cell phones.

And for chrissakes, learn the difference between a blood and a crip.

From CBS5

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Fri, 08 Feb 2008 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Man Pretends to Be Moroccan Prince On Facebook, Gets Arrested]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/02/07/man-arrested-for-pretending-to-be-moroccan-prince-on-facebook/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/07/man-arrested-for-pretending-to-be-moroccan-prince-on-facebook/http://www.switched.com/2008/02/07/man-arrested-for-pretending-to-be-moroccan-prince-on-facebook/#commentsFiled under: ,

Facebook Impostor Arrested in MoroccoHere in the U.S., pretending to be a celebrity online is something of a trend. There's a whole slew of fake celebrity blogs out there. Search Facebook or MySpace and you'll find dozens pages supposedly opened by Tom Cruise or Katie Holmes -- all fake.

The Moroccan government, though, apparently isn't quite hip with this trend, and has arrested a man for creating a Facebook profile under the guise of the brother of King Mohammed VI.

The man, 26-year-old Fouad Mourtada, was arrested and charged with "villainous practices," a very dire and vague sounding offense. At this point, it's unknown just what he said on the fake profile and whether his intents were malicious or satirical, but it's safe to say that whatever he was doing with the fake Facebook identity wasn't terribly amusing to the Moroccan government.

From CNN.com

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>CelebrityFacebookFakeThu, 07 Feb 2008 09:10:00 EST<![CDATA[Snow-Day Caller Tells Media to Get Back to Reporting Real News]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/25/snow-day-caller-tells-media-to-get-back-to-reporting-real-news/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/25/snow-day-caller-tells-media-to-get-back-to-reporting-real-news/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/25/snow-day-caller-tells-media-to-get-back-to-reporting-real-news/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Snow-Day Caller Tells Media to Get Back to Reporting Real News
You may remember a little story we posted the other day about a Fairfax County High School student named Devraj Kori, who called a school administrator's home to question the decision not to close the area's schools for snow. Dean Tistadt's wife, Candy, returned Kori's call and left the boy a minute long rant chastising him for calling their home number with some harsh words, including the phrase "snotty-nosed little brats."

Well it turns out Kori isn't exactly enjoying the media attention either. Following the coverage from the Washington Post and CNN Kori has been inundated with phone calls from media outlets who he says have better things to cover. "I think there are issues like Darfur, I mean there are presidential primaries going on. There's so many other things that could have this media attention."

We're apt to agree with Kori on this one. We may be reporting it, but as an outlet that purely covers technology it's perfectly reasonable that we would pay attention. Outlets like CNN have probably dedicated more time to Kori's snow day phone call in the last three days than it has to Darfur in the last three months. And speaking of Darfur when was the last time you heard anything about it? Don't even remember do you, so we'll do CNN's job and give you a quick update - It's not getting better. Government forces in Sudan recently opened fire on a convoy of peace keepers from the United Nations and the African Union, though denied the attack was intentional. And to make matters worse, the government appointed Musa Hilal, who is accused of being a leader in the Janjaweed militia and being directly involved in the atrocities in the Darfur region, to a senior position.

Now that we've got the ball rolling maybe CNN can pick up where we left off and take Kori's advice -- start reporting on issues of true consequence and leave the quirky stories of internet phenomena to the tech blogs.

From CNN

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cnndarfurfacebookfairfaxkorimediamyspacephoneschoolsnow daySnowDaywashington postWashingtonPostyoutubeFri, 25 Jan 2008 16:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Student's Snow-Day Question Causes Internet Brouhaha]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/23/students-snow-day-plea-leads-to-raucous-online-debate/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/23/students-snow-day-plea-leads-to-raucous-online-debate/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/23/students-snow-day-plea-leads-to-raucous-online-debate/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Dean Tistadt, Chief Operating Officer for the Fairfax County, Virginia school system, and his wife, Candy, learned a tough lesson in the power of the Internet after an angry voicemail left on a student's cell phone became an Internet phenomenon.

The ordeal started when Devraj "Dave" S. Kori, a senior at Lake Braddock Secondary School, called Dean at his listed home phone number to find out why he had not closed the schools after three inches of snow fell in the area. Kori left his name and number on the Tistadts' answering machine. Later that day, Candy returned the call and left a furious minute-long tirade on the boy's cell phone.

"How dare you call us at home! If you have a problem with going to school, you do not call somebody's house and complain about it," she yelled. At some point, Candy refers to students in general as "snotty-nosed little brats," and towards the end of her outburst shouts, "Get over it, kid, and go to school!"

Kori was taken aback by the anger and combative tone taken by Mrs. Tisradt and decided to share it with the Internet public by posting the audio of the message -- along with Dean Tistadt's home and work numbers -- on Facebook and YouTube.

The posting has touched off all sorts of debates over whether Kori's actions constituted harassment, if Candy Tistadt overstepped her bounds, and what is considered a polite and reasonable request for information. Within a day, the clip had received hundreds of hits online. It then made its way onto the local nightly news, and, as of today, had gotten over 20,000 listeners on YouTube.

Kori, a member of his school's debate team, said he was not intending to harass. He says that he had attempted to reach Dean Tistadt at his work number and thought he had a basic right to petition a public official for more information about an issue that affected him and his fellow students. He says the disagreement probably stems from a generation gap "People in my generation view privacy differently. We are the cell phone generation. We are used to being reached at all times," said Kori. Paul Regnier, Fairfax County Schools' spokesman, retorted that the conflict was more likely the result of a "civility gap."

Needless to say, the incident has resulted in countless prank phone calls to the Tistadts and much embarrassment for Candy.

Our take -- Kori probably shouldn't have called the Tistadts' home line, but Candy's minute -long rant was certainly unwarranted. Perhaps next time she'll think twice before leaving a hostile message and try to explain to the student that calling Dean Tistadt at home is unacceptable in a calm, level-headed manner.

From Washington Post

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking+newscell phoneCellPhonefacebookfairfaxphoneprotestschoolsnowsnow daySnowDaytopyoutubeWed, 23 Jan 2008 18:03:00 EST<![CDATA[Top 11 Celebrity Blogs]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/18/top-11-celebrity-blogs/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/18/top-11-celebrity-blogs/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/18/top-11-celebrity-blogs/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

It seems that a boatload of celebrities, whether yesterday's star or today's heartthrob, have embraced the leanings of twenty-first century pop culture and started a blog. What's exceptional about these online writings by the famous is that they, like all good blogs, run the gamut of subject matter. Some are diaries or journals, others support a cause, while still others offer up a new mode of artistic expression or a way to reach out to fans. We've carefully mined the trove of celebrity blogs on the Web to bring you the most popular, the most profound, the most inspiring, or simply the most bizarre. In other words, here are the best celebrity blogs you'll find today.



Rosie O'Donnell
English majors and Walt Whitman die-hards might experience a migraine when choking through O'Donnell's attempts at poetic profundity, but this actress and comedian wins big points for her innovative and interactive blog, a forum she updates virtually daily and sincerely. Webcam responses to fan e-mails are the norm, in addition to a good dose of zesty humor in almost every post. She does write, too, even if some of it is painful. Whatever you do, just don't expect her not to diss 'The View' every now and again.


Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>blogsfeaturesrosie odonnellRosieOdonnellFri, 18 Jan 2008 17:14:00 EST<![CDATA[New Malicious MySpace Friends Plant Viruses]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/17/new-malicious-myspace-friends-plant-viruses/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/17/new-malicious-myspace-friends-plant-viruses/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/17/new-malicious-myspace-friends-plant-viruses/#commentsFiled under: , ,

In the 'Star Wars' universe, it was Luke Skywalker's Rogue Squadron that was largely responsible for driving back the forces of the evil empire. However, in the world of computing, just about anything labeled "rogue" is a very bad thing indeed. So, reports of "rogue friends" on MySpace don't sound promising, and indeed they are not. Hacked and bogus accounts are nothing new on MySpace, but now they're packing viruses and have the potential to take over your computer.

According to the virus experts at McAfee, this new type of attack seems to be coming from hackers in the Ukraine or Malaysia. Requests from rogue friends look just like any other request, but once accepted, visiting the new friend's profile displays a popup that asks if you would like to download an official update to Windows. The update is, of course, not official, and should you click to download it, you will find yourself infected.

It goes without saying that, just like you shouldn't open e-mail attachments from random people, you should be cautious when accepting random friend requests from people you don't know.

From 'The Daily Mail'

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>HackingMySpaceVirusThu, 17 Jan 2008 10:16:00 EST<![CDATA[Is Canceling Your MySpace Account Impossible?]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/16/is-canceling-your-myspace-account-impossible/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/16/is-canceling-your-myspace-account-impossible/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/16/is-canceling-your-myspace-account-impossible/#commentsFiled under: ,



Like you needed any more reasons to hate MySpace: Consumerist reader Julian couldn't for the life of him figure out how to cancel his MySpace account. Here's how it went:

I have tried 5-6 times in the last 3 days to cancel my MySpace account, and they don't appear to be allowing me to do so. Are they that worried about losing people to Facebook?

On their website, I was able to go through the "cancel account" rigmarole, only to be told that they would send me an email in which I there would be a URL I had to click on, in order to confirm my desire to cancel. I have not received any such emails from them, despite repeated attempts -- not in my In Box, not in my Spam folder, nowhere.

I have sent two messages to customer service; the first one I got back an automated message telling me to follow the steps on their website that I had already done, and the second time I got an automated message saying someone would get back to me. That was a couple days ago.

Apparently, the same thing happened to the folks at The Consumerist. Their roundabout solution? To upload porn to their account, which accomplished the desired goal. If only we could use the same technique to stop our credit card companies from bothering us.

From The Consumerist

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Wed, 16 Jan 2008 17:52:00 EST<![CDATA[Another MySpace Predator Caught Going After Children]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/15/another-myspace-predator-caught/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/15/another-myspace-predator-caught/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/15/another-myspace-predator-caught/#commentsFiled under: ,

On the same day MySpace and the attorneys general for 49 states announced an agreement that will allow parents to have their kids' email addresses blocked from the social networking site we get this tragic story out of Florida:

A Tampa man met two girls, aged 14 and 12, through MySpace and met up with them to have sex. After the 14-year-old confided in her parents about what happened, the police nabbed the pervert after he attempted a second meeting with the younger girl.

Turn your irony sensors on now: When arrested he was wearing a shirt that read "Real Men of Genius." See the referenced story for the picture. And that's the long and short of the humor here. Irony sensors off now. Thank you.

Nothing is funny about a predator skulking around MySpace looking for victims. It will be interesting to see how many parents take advantage of the new offering by the social networking site to let them block their children from signing up. Granted, this relies on the parents submitting their kids' email addresses in order to have them blocked, which may not be enough considering how easy it is to set up a new free email account. But at least it is a start.

What would you do to protect your kids from online predators? What do you do to protect yourself when you go online yourself?

From Tampa Bay's 10 and The New York Times.

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Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>breaking+newslawmyspaceparentspredatorssafetytopTue, 15 Jan 2008 15:35:00 EST<![CDATA[MySpace Finally Takes Steps to Protect Kids]]>http://www.switched.com/2008/01/15/myspace-finally-takes-steps-to-protect-kids/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/15/myspace-finally-takes-steps-to-protect-kids/http://www.switched.com/2008/01/15/myspace-finally-takes-steps-to-protect-kids/#commentsFiled under: , ,

MySpace Takes Steps to Protect KidsMySpace takes a lot of heat for not doing enough to protect the younger members of its site. The site has repeatedly worked with governments to ban sexual offenders, but those efforts have always been reactive to external pressure and bad PR. Now the site is being a little more proactive, announcing a number of measures to help ensure the safety of under-age members.

This includes a number of enhancements to the site, including the ability for parents to list the e-mail addresses of their children and prevent them from creating profiles, automatically marking under-age profiles as "private," and responding within 72-hours to any reports of inappropriate content on the site. The company hopes these measures will help to keep kids safe and, of course, keep angry parents off of their backs. But, we can't help but think these measures will be easy to subvert or abuse.

It would be a funny joke to list all your friends' e-mail addresses as your children and prevent them from using them to sign up on the site (assuming you have any friends who aren't already on there), but the bigger problem is that there's no way to prevent your kids from going to Hotmail or Gmail and getting another disposable e-mail account to sign up with. And there's still nothing preventing them from lying about their age to make a public profile.

Ultimately these changes are positive steps that should help to protect some of the untold thousands of underage MySpace users, but we believe that those who really want to will keep on finding ways around them.

From CNN

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