MySpace sued for $30 million

[angelneo]

linkety (http://news.com.com/2061-10802_3-6085615.html?part=rss&tag=6085615&subj=news)

Not that I advocate MySpace.com but shouldn't the user be aware of the danger of using Internet? especially if children are involved, shouldn't the parents educated the children about the pitfalls before buying them a computer?

[superbovine]

linkety (http://news.com.com/2061-10802_3-6085615.html?part=rss&tag=6085615&subj=news)

Not that I advocate MySpace.com but shouldn't the user be aware of the danger of using Internet? especially if children are involved, shouldn't the parents educated the children about the pitfalls before buying them a computer?


shouldn't myspace be aware that stupid people would sue them...

[Flowbee]

shouldn't myspace be aware that stupid people would sue them...

If you're a big enough target, someone will sue you. I'm just waiting for the first MacRumors lawsuit. :(

[someguy]

If you're a big enough target, someone will sue you. I'm just waiting for the first MacRumors lawsuit. :(
Don't hold your breath.

And as for MySpace, it must be stopped! :eek: :D

No, but seriously, I blame the mother. She obviously doesn't know much about the internet.

"No one is more committed to Internet safety than MySpace." HA! :rolleyes:

[iTwitch]

If you're a big enough target, someone will sue you. I'm just waiting for the first MacRumors lawsuit. :(

If there aren't any G5 Powerbooks by next Tuesday I say we start a class action lawsuit. :D

[Doctor Q]

What's to keep any other web site where people can talk to each other, including MacRumors, from being subject to the same charges?

We have a minimum age for registration, but no security force to check if anybody has cheated, and no monitoring of private messages.

[xsedrinam]

Nothing you could type
Can cause me to gripe ‘bout my space
I’d talk to any foo
Who I think sounds coo on my space

Sendin’ pics to a guy
In an e-mail letter
I ain’t old enough
And I should know better
But I'm shootin’ from the heart
‘Cause I ain’t too smart on my space.

[bousozoku]

It makes me sad that parents refuse to take responsibility for their lack of parenting and/or lack of determination to be good parents. They can't know everything but they need to know anything and everything about their children.

When I see someone who is underage on MySpace, I report them. They'll be angry but it's not just one of them. Their friends will be there so that makes 20-30 of them.

The trouble is that, they're all angry afterwards and they go to create a new profile right away and MySpace allows it to happen. As well, the parents still don't know. Do the parents care? Should there be idiot lights on children so parents know when it's too late?

[XnavxeMiyyep]

What's to keep any other web site where people can talk to each other, including MacRumors, from being subject to the same charges?

We have a minimum age for registration, but no security force to check if anybody has cheated, and no monitoring of private messages.

Maybe MacRumors should just sue her for potential loss of revenue for a possible lawsuit that she may sick on MacRumors for possibly "endangering" her child... ONLINE!!

[adk]

While I wouldn't miss MySpace if this lawsuit brought it down, this woman doesn't have a leg to stand on. Elvis Shaking his hips got girls pregnant in the 50s, Marilyn Manson's Music made kids kill themselves in the 90s, and now MySpace gets girls assaulted. This mother doesn't have a legal leg to stand on, and I hope she doesn't get a dime.

[Peyton]

Or maybe myspace could sue the mother for having the child? Or raising the child in such a way? Or for being less than involved in their life? :confused:

[MongoTheGeek]

Yeah... child molesters are no longer sitting around in trench-coats handing out lollypops. They are on MySpace.

Maybe people should have internet licenses like drivers licenses.

*sigh*

[OutThere]

Yeah... child molesters are no longer sitting around in trench-coats handing out lollypops. They are on MySpace.

Maybe people should have internet licenses like drivers licenses.

*sigh*

I've believed for several years now that people should have certificates of intelligence before being allowed to own computers...

[dornoforpyros]

I've believed for several years now that people should have certificates of intelligence before being allowed to own computers...

I've believed for several years now that people should have certificates of intelligence before being allowed to leave the house...

I'm only half kidding

[MongoTheGeek]

15 years ago I thought it would be wonderful if everyone could get onto the internet.

Then AOL turned on Usenet access and went 'all you can eat'.

[Flowbee]

Don't hold your breath.

The rumor business can get pretty nasty... look what happened to ThinkSecret.

[katie ta achoo]

One time, I got a dirty, unsolicited message on myspace. Can I get in on this lawsuit?

[Henri Gaudier]

shouldn't myspace be aware that stupid people would sue them...
That's 50 million right there. Calling me stupid. mutter.

[macEfan]

yeah, that mother is stupid enough not to watch what her child does online. And the child needs to know not to go visit unkown people!

[latergator116]

Myspace is a horrible website, but I think this woman is a complete dumbass. she should get fined for wasting everyone's time. :mad:

[dornoforpyros]

myspace is the worse thing to happen to the net in the last year or two. I agree this lawsuit is pointless, but I wouldn't lose any sleep if myspace were shut down.

[someguy]

myspace is the worse thing to happen to the net in the last year or two. I agree this lawsuit is pointless, but I wouldn't lose any sleep if myspace were shut down.
I would gain sleep. It would mean my girlfriend wouldn't keep me up all night asking questions about HTML, trying to make her myspace look cooler. She's a dork. :)

[michaelrjohnson]

While I wouldn't miss MySpace if this lawsuit brought it down, this woman doesn't have a leg to stand on. Elvis Shaking his hips got girls pregnant in the 50s, Marilyn Manson's Music made kids kill themselves in the 90s, and now MySpace gets girls assaulted. This mother doesn't have a legal leg to stand on, and I hope she doesn't get a dime.
I agree completely. I'm sorry, but it's absolutely absurd to think that this is MySpace's responsibilty. If it's true that they don't have any kind of age-police, it doesn't really matter, (while not a member myself) I would highly doubt that this girl actually read the terms of agreement that she skipped past during registration. The ones that probably legally absolve MySpace from prosecution based on not meeting the proper age status.

--------
Personal Rant:
I hate what sites like MySpace (and FaceBook) have done to communities, both online and real. I work on a college campus and seeing the types of persecution, and above all, stupidity that are created by the existence of these sites is mind-boggling. Like adk said, I wouldn't miss MySpace for a minute if it disappeared completely, but I don't care who you are, what your beliefs are, or what your past experience is: parents are responsible for parenting. It is not the job of the public schools (local debate) it is not the job of musicians, artists, video-game manufacturers, or websites.

[Motley]

I've believed for several years now that people should have certificates of intelligence before being allowed to have children...

There, fixed it for you:D

[michaelrjohnson]

There, fixed it for you:D
My thoughts exactly.

[CorvusCamenarum]

I've believed for several years now that people should have certificates of intelligence before being allowed to own computers...

Or breed.

Someone needs to explain to the mother that the computer is not a babysitter.

[XNine]

YEah, let's not go after the person that did the assaulting, lets just go after the people responsible for the line of communication. :rolleyes:

I think this lady and her daughter should both get a caning until bloody and bruised and told "if you pull this **** again you'll get fed, feet first, slowly, to pirhannas."

God I hate people.

[mactastic]

Deep pockets always get sued.

[MacNut]

I think this lady and her daughter should both get a caning until bloody and bruised and told "if you pull this **** again you'll get fed, feet first, slowly, to pirhannas."

God I hate people.But then you would see that video on myspace and another lawsuit would ensue.:rolleyes:

There should be an age limit of 18 to view the internet, then an IQ test should be administered to check to see how smart the end user is.:p

[superbovine]

One time, I got a dirty, unsolicited message on myspace. Can I get in on this lawsuit?

only once?

[bousozoku]

...
There should be an age limit of 18 to view the internet, then an IQ test should be administered to check to see how smart the end user is.:p

Is 18 the high limit or the low limit? ;)

[Killyp]

I use myspace quite often and it is really good, when used correctly...

For me, 'correct' use of myspace means contacting people you already know. You shouldn't meet people through myspace, you can do that at social places or directly through other friends, the internet is not intended for this use...


Stupid woman though... If she fails, I hope myspace turn around and sue her for being such a stupid parent who has the intellectual capabilities of a garden swing...

[jaydub]

Yeah... child molesters are no longer sitting around in trench-coats handing out lollypops. They are on MySpace.

Maybe people should have internet licenses like drivers licenses.

*sigh*
I think that MySpace just happens to be the latest scapegoat lack of parental interaction and sueprvision... There are plenty of pervs on myspace, but many of them are still stalking kids at parks and in malls.

[Lau]

I think that MySpace just happens to be the latest scapegoat lack of parental interaction and sueprvision... There are plenty of pervs on myspace, but many of them are still stalking kids at parks and in malls.

Also, equally, the amount stalking parks and malls is tiny compared to the amount of kids who aren't let outside in fear of a percieved predator, in spite of the risk being tiny. I'd rather my kid went outside and got a bit of exercise and play, than be confined inside.

Again, education of what to do in such a situation, whether it be online or in the real world is the most important thing.

[jaydub]

Also, equally, the amount stalking parks and malls is tiny compared to the amount of kids who aren't let outside in fear of a percieved predator, in spite of the risk being tiny. I'd rather my kid went outside and got a bit of exercise and play, than be confined inside.

Again, education of what to do in such a situation, whether it be online or in the real world is the most important thing.Definitely right. It's funny, the fear that makes parents keep their kids indoors is also leading to another unfortunate problem: childhood obesity. My wife is a 2nd grade teacher and she has a few students who are pushing 150lb. These kids are 7 years old!

[Lau]

Definitely right. It's funny, the fear that makes parents keep their kids indoors is also leading to another unfortunate problem: childhood obesity. My wife is a 2nd grade teacher and she has a few students who are pushing 150lb. These kids are 7 years old!

Absolutely. Keeping the kids inside in order to protect them from a miniscule chance of being abducted, yet making them very much at risk of the killer obesity. The maths don't add up, innit. ;)

[bousozoku]

Absolutely. Keeping the kids inside in order to protect them from a miniscule chance of being abducted, yet making them very much at risk of the killer obesity. The maths don't add up, innit. ;)

Parents who don't think can't teach their children to think, so they keep them inside, pull them from public school to home school them. Eventually, they turn out to be extremely isolated and confused, unable to deal with the real world on any level. They also will probably have 10 children of their own.

[jimN]

YEah, let's not go after the person that did the assaulting

It sounds like he was 19. Now what isn't mentioned is if any sexual activity was consensual but in the UK we'd probably turn a blind eye to a 19 year old and a 15 year old as long as they both wanted to do it.

As for where child molesters hang out - you'll find them living in the homes of the children they molest. Stangers who abuse children remain rare irrespective of all the tabloid name calling we see in the UK, the real problem are the step parents and overly familiar uncles and family friends. We should start going after the real perverts rather than demonising internet sites.

[hob]

I use myspace quite often and it is really good, when used correctly...

For me, 'correct' use of myspace means contacting people you already know. You shouldn't meet people through myspace, you can do that at social places or directly through other friends, the internet is not intended for this use...

I agree completely! I think that should be written on the front page of MySpace.

Also, I was thinking - "social networking" probably does more harm than good in the long run. MySpace is good for promoting your band... that's about it really...

I think kids are the one to watch out for - they think MySpace is cool in the same way that teenagers think beer is cool - you're not allowed it, so it's a bit of a taboo... (I could get into a debate about legalisation of alcohol and how france/italy etc. have lower rates of alcoholism but here is not the time or place!)

Adam Curry says instead of excluding children, parents should allow their children onto myspace - and then get an account themselves!! If MySpace fills up with 30-50 y/o's, it will quickly become "uncool" and then people will just use it for what Killyp, and myself use it for - keeping in contact with people you know in real life

Arghhhh!

And this lawsuit - everyone's already said what I'm thinking, it's totally frivulous - and for goodness sake, the mother didn't HAVE to provide her child with a computer/internet access and then not monitor her....

You better believe when I have kids, I'm not gonna be trawling through their emails, but I will be making sure they know what's what...

Another thought - perhaps what's needed is MySpace Jr...? Where you HAVE to be under 15 to register, you have to have a parental account, and then the parent would have to approve messages, or could at least see who/what their child has been talking to and about....

There is this issue of proving your age though...

[Motley]

Parents who don't think can't teach their children to think, so they keep them inside, pull them from public school to home school them. Eventually, they turn out to be extremely isolated and confused, unable to deal with the real world on any level. They also will probably have 10 children of their own.

And get molested by a family member anyway, just like the grand majority of cases.

[bousozoku]

And get molested by a family member anyway, just like the grand majority of cases.

Thanks, but I didn't even want to introduce that element.

[Kingsly]

Personal Rant:
I hate what sites like MySpace (and FaceBook) have done to communities, both online and real. I work on a college campus and seeing the types of persecution, and above all, stupidity that are created by the existence of these sites is mind-boggling. Like adk said, I wouldn't miss MySpace for a minute if it disappeared completely, but I don't care who you are, what your beliefs are, or what your past experience is: parents are responsible for parenting. It is not the job of the public schools (local debate) it is not the job of musicians, artists, video-game manufacturers, or websites.
Ditto.
While places like MySpace create the perfect stomping grounds for pedophiles, its the job of the parent to actually play a part in the kids life and to be proactive in preventing these things.


One more thought, MySpace web pages are probably the most sickening examples of web pages I've ever seen. Ewwww. If you don't know HTML, don't try.

[jdechko]

I would gain sleep. It would mean my girlfriend wouldn't keep me up all night asking questions about HTML, trying to make her myspace look cooler. She's a dork. :)

Ditto, I feel like my wife's myspace has become my responsibility for maintaining. She constantly asks me how to do things. I respond to her that if I wanted to have a myspace account, I'd have my own. Then she gets pissed and I end up having to sleep on the couch. (J/K, though I do give her somecrap when she asks me for help on myspace).

[iAlan]

Stupid woman though... If she fails, I hope myspace turn around and sue her for being such a stupid parent who has the intellectual capabilities of a garden swing...

As an owner of a garden swing I take offence at your comment - concider yourself sued :p

[floriflee]

Also, equally, the amount stalking parks and malls is tiny compared to the amount of kids who aren't let outside in fear of a percieved predator, in spite of the risk being tiny. I'd rather my kid went outside and got a bit of exercise and play, than be confined inside.

Again, education of what to do in such a situation, whether it be online or in the real world is the most important thing.

It seems like a lot of parents are either disillusioned to the fact that their kids will ever be the victim of a predator or that they are going to be stalked by everyone they come in contact with. Parents need to find a balance. As busy as their lives get it's their responsibility to teach their kids safety precautions and their responsibility to keep tabs on what their kids are doing. The tools for doing all this are out there and pretty easily accessible so they can't use the excuse of being too busy, oblivious or scared to use them.

[Felldownthewell]

<rant>
Myspace is a bad parent's dream. If you raise a child stupid enough to get online, meet a 45 year old man, send him seductive pictures, then agree to meet him in a secluded area (not this story here but I'm sure this has happened) then you get raped by him...you blame myspace? Not the child for being so blatantly stupid? Not the parent for not caring enough to take a moment out of their lives to see what their child is doing? Not the parent for raising and not educating a child to the point that she is so dumb as to not be able to function in the real world?

I am not saying that the girl was asking to be raped or anything like that, only that she and her parents brought the situation upon themselves. I love how myspace is accused of only being concerned about the money, yet the family brings a 30 million dollar lawsuit? huh? If thats not about the money then what is?

Myspace is a huge blinking target that allows moronic teens and neglegent greedy parents to lay blame anywhere but their own shoulders.


I am 16 and I have a myspace, yet I haven't been raped yet...why? Well, maybe because I am a guy and it is probably less likely that a creepy old man will contact me, but anyway, the point is that I know how to be safe on the internet. Myspace is a valuble social tool for me and my friends, and I would be pissed if some greedy mother and her mentally challenged daughter ruined it all. Be safe! The world is dangerous! Do not expect to be protected at all times! Watch your own back...that way you can blame nobody but yourself when something bad happens.

Interestingly enough, there was rape before myspace, and people tend to forget that. Do we sue the bar where the rypanol(sp?) is slipped into the drink? No. Do we sue the streetlight company when a person gets grabbed in a dark alleyway? No. the phone company when a meeting is arranged over the phone? Of course not! This is ridiculous!
</rant>

[clayj]

Fell, your points are all good.

The reason why these people are suing MySpace for money is that there's really no way to sue them for anything else. It's a central tenet of the US justice system that punitive damages are a way to force people and companies to modify their behavior, so as to avoid more monetary damages in the future.

Do the founders of MySpace deserve to go to jail over this? Almost certainly not. Should MySpace be shut down as a result of something like this? Maybe, but it is true that most MySpace users have NOT ever run into trouble because of the site. So what's left? Sue them for a massive amount of damages (which I'm sure is at least partly the idea of the plaintiffs' attorney, who stands to make a lot of money from a victory or a settlement).

If the terms of the lawsuit were "victory = MySpace has to clean up their act", I'd be more on board with this whole lawsuit idea. In this case, though, it's rather clear that these folks are just interested in suing as many deep pockets as they can. MySpace should prevail here, but they also need to recognize that they REALLY need to clean up their act and do whatever they can to prevent child molesters and pedophiles from using their site as a feeding ground.

[bousozoku]

It's good to see that so many people are thinking.

Locally, people are having meetings every week to talk about MySpace and protecting children. I suspect they're not talking about anything that matters, but hiding children from the world instead.

Another point of interest is that a local parent and businessperson has created a website with both advice and software. One of the pieces of software they're pushing hard is a keystroke logger. It's not free but they're seriously advocating its use as a safety tool. As cynical as I am, I'd think that he's hoping to receive information from every computer where it's installed. He's not mentioned any functionality like that, but one fear can so easily be turned into an opportunity, can't it?

[Chip NoVaMac]

It makes me sad that parents refuse to take responsibility for their lack of parenting and/or lack of determination to be good parents. They can't know everything but they need to know anything and everything about their children.

When I see someone who is underage on MySpace, I report them. They'll be angry but it's not just one of them. Their friends will be there so that makes 20-30 of them.

The trouble is that, they're all angry afterwards and they go to create a new profile right away and MySpace allows it to happen. As well, the parents still don't know. Do the parents care? Should there be idiot lights on children so parents know when it's too late?

Amen. Parents IMO are not wanting to take responsibility for raising their children. Easier to sue in the US courts, than to do the right thing.

So glad that I have no children. For they might hate me. For with the internet I would spend every waking moment trying to find out what crap they were getting into.

[HGW]

30 million dollars is just greedy if she wins i hope someone sue's her for being greedy.

[whooleytoo]

<rant>
Myspace is a bad parent's dream. If you raise a child stupid enough to get online, meet a 45 year old man, send him seductive pictures, then agree to meet him in a secluded area (not this story here but I'm sure this has happened) then you get raped by him...you blame myspace? Not the child for being so blatantly stupid? Not the parent for not caring enough to take a moment out of their lives to see what their child is doing? Not the parent for raising and not educating a child to the point that she is so dumb as to not be able to function in the real world?</rant>

While I agree overall with your point - I do think it's pretty weird you blame the child, and the parent in the above example, but not the 45 year old man!!

[regre7]

As an owner of a garden swing I take offence at your comment - concider yourself sued :p

As an owner of a dictionary, I take offense at your misspelling of 'consider' - consider yourself sued. :p

[G4scott]

myspace = teh suck. Facebook is where it's at... ;)

Myspace is for creepy stalkers. Facebook is too, but at least you can control the geography of where the stalkers that can stalk you are from...

Also, people are dumb.

It wouldn't surprise me if the mom had this set up, and told her daughter to go sleep with someone over 18 that she met on myspace...

I'm going to sue the phone company and phone book people, because an old man found my name and called me to set up a meeting so I could be assaulted...

Too bad people can't be sued for being complete dimwits...

[atszyman]

So glad that I have no children. For they might hate me. For with the internet I would spend every waking moment trying to find out what crap they were getting into.

I'm sure my daughter, and future children will hate me when they get to "internet age".

The computers they have access to will either be in a public place or accessible via some sort of VNC so that they know at any given moment I will/can be watching exactly what they are doing on the computer. It will also be made clear that they have no such thing as privacy when it comes to the computer(s) in the house. If I feel it's necessary I will read their email.

If they get a computer in their room it may be networked to share the printer(s) but will be blocked at the router so that the internet is unavailable or have no networking at all and a local printer.

The internet is a scary place and I don't expect anyone running a website to put up any protections to prevent my children from getting there. It is my job as a parent to protect my children.

I hope that I can trust my kids enough to let them have some freedom, I don't anticipate reading their email but they will know that I can do it if I think I must.

Of course there is a bit of a technology gap at the moment for older parents of young children. My mom would have no clue what to do with young kids and the internet now, so I can see where that can come into play. But parents don't expect J.A. Henkels to keep steak knives out of the hands of their children (it's why there are drawer locks for childproofing), why would they expect a commercial website to keep any potential customers out?

[4God]

MySpace makes money how? :confused:
It would suck to be sued for such an amount.

[Malfoy]

MySpace makes money how? :confused:
It would suck to be sued for such an amount.

Mostly advertising but they don't make that much with that. Money isn't an issue since they are owned by News Corp. They buy and sell small countries daily.

[Chip NoVaMac]

I'm sure my daughter, and future children will hate me when they get to "internet age".

The computers they have access to will either be in a public place or accessible via some sort of VNC so that they know at any given moment I will/can be watching exactly what they are doing on the computer. It will also be made clear that they have no such thing as privacy when it comes to the computer(s) in the house. If I feel it's necessary I will read their email.

If they get a computer in their room it may be networked to share the printer(s) but will be blocked at the router so that the internet is unavailable or have no networking at all and a local printer.

Glad to see that I am not the only one feeling like this.

I remember the Master Rule of my parents house. Until I paid the bills, I had to live by their rules. If I didn't like it, I knew where the door was.

[Mord]

half of my hates myspace, half of me wants internet freedom.

[HGW]

the best thing todo is only allow them acess to sites you know are safe.
its a shame to deprive kids of the information highway, all these parental locks are comming native to the os.

[Felldownthewell]

While I agree overall with your point - I do think it's pretty weird you blame the child, and the parent in the above example, but not the 45 year old man!!


Well of course he's to blame! But he's not the one being sued... myspace is.

The rapist is always at fault (I don't buy this "Its a disease I can't help it don't send me to jail" *********) but in this case some responsibility falls on the victim. Now that is a horrible statement OUT OF CONTEXT so don't selectively quote me on that one- but in a case where the teen does what I described- seductive pictures, arranged meetings and so on- thats just stupid. Not saying she deserved it, but she was dumb to put herself in the position. Her and her parents are far more to blame than myspace- but far less to blame than the rapist.

[steamboat26]

Now thats the American way, if you don't like so something, sue somebody :rolleyes:

[chris200x9]

I think the mom should get charged with child neglect in my opinion

[Chubypig]

I'm sure my daughter, and future children will hate me when they get to "internet age".

The computers they have access to will either be in a public place or accessible via some sort of VNC so that they know at any given moment I will/can be watching exactly what they are doing on the computer. It will also be made clear that they have no such thing as privacy when it comes to the computer(s) in the house. If I feel it's necessary I will read their email.

If they get a computer in their room it may be networked to share the printer(s) but will be blocked at the router so that the internet is unavailable or have no networking at all and a local printer.

The internet is a scary place and I don't expect anyone running a website to put up any protections to prevent my children from getting there. It is my job as a parent to protect my children.

I hope that I can trust my kids enough to let them have some freedom, I don't anticipate reading their email but they will know that I can do it if I think I must.

Ok, I think this seems a bit excessive. I feel like doing this isn't truly being a good parent. The key to a successful relationship with one's child is trust. You (and by "you" i'm not singling you out, but referring to all parents) need to be able to develop a level of trust with your child and educate him/her about the risks of the internet so that you would never have to monitor like that. I mean, sure you can check up on them, but instead of doing it behind their back, ask them what they've been up to. If you have raised your child well enough, which i'm sure you will, you will be able to trust any answer they give you.

[Skeeball236]

del

[jamesW135]

Myspace is trash.

[ibook30]

Fell, your points are all good.

The reason why these people are suing MySpace for money is that there's really no way to sue them for anything else. It's a central tenet of the US justice system that punitive damages are a way to force people and companies to modify their behavior, so as to avoid more monetary damages in the future.

Do the founders of MySpace deserve to go to jail over this? Almost certainly not. Should MySpace be shut down as a result of something like this? Maybe, but it is true that most MySpace users have NOT ever run into trouble because of the site. So what's left? Sue them for a massive amount of damages (which I'm sure is at least partly the idea of the plaintiffs' attorney, who stands to make a lot of money from a victory or a settlement).

If the terms of the lawsuit were "victory = MySpace has to clean up their act", I'd be more on board with this whole lawsuit idea. In this case, though, it's rather clear that these folks are just interested in suing as many deep pockets as they can. MySpace should prevail here, but they also need to recognize that they REALLY need to clean up their act and do whatever they can to prevent child molesters and pedophiles from using their site as a feeding ground.


Well put - the victory in this case would be to compel myspace to change their ways with financial pressure. I believe they need to- now and dramatically.

[benthewraith]

While Myspace is being sued, can we get SMS.ac sued to? I'm sure charging premium for text messages you didn't sign up to get is illegal. :rolleyes:

[someguy]

The entire website is like a death trap you just get sucked in to it.
I don't know about all that, but I do think something needs to be done. Like everything else, what is meant to be fun and enjoyable for users with good intentions is ruined by a smaller population of losers who probably should be locked up. :rolleyes:

[chrismccorkle]

"'MySpace is more concerned about making money than protecting children online,' Adam Loewy, who is representing the girl and her mother in the lawsuit against MySpace, told the newspaper."

Amen.

I wholly agree with Chris200x9 as well.

[atszyman]

Ok, I think this seems a bit excessive. I feel like doing this isn't truly being a good parent. The key to a successful relationship with one's child is trust. You (and by "you" i'm not singling you out, but referring to all parents) need to be able to develop a level of trust with your child and educate him/her about the risks of the internet so that you would never have to monitor like that. I mean, sure you can check up on them, but instead of doing it behind their back, ask them what they've been up to. If you have raised your child well enough, which i'm sure you will, you will be able to trust any answer they give you.

I never said I was doing it behind their back, and I never said I would watch every minute they are on a computer. But if I think something is up, I will get into their email much like I would search their room if I thought they were doing drugs. I fully expect to trust my kids, and I expect they will trust me. Knowing me they will end up with their own computers (most likely my old hardware) for word processing and homework. We will probably limit internet access to 1-2 computers in the house located in the office where at any given point my wife or I is likely to be, or be soon. Chatting is fine, browsing is fine, but it's not hard to end up places you don't intend to be very quickly.

I realize that they will get curious and go to sites I don't want them to but that's probably a good sign that we need to be discussing other issues. The most likely scenario for what will happen in my house is the public computers for internet and probably turn on address logging in the router to keep track of what websites are visited just for the hell of it.

I have tools at my disposal, and I will utilize some of them, and if something seems out of order to me I will do what I think is best to protect my child. There will of course be long talks about meeting strangers on the internet and why you should never meet alone. Of course my daughter isn't even 2 yet and her computer experience is watching "you" on my screensaver (she refers to herself in the second person).

[CubaTBird]

You know the irony of all this? In the late 90's I remember reading articles in magazines such as PC Mag and what not about how these sort of "social networking" sites were going to be the future of communication. I would open up business week and there would be charts of how small businesses could use these sites to manage their employees and adhere to their customers requests. Also long drawn out articles would praise these sites saying that they provided instant communication between "colleagues". Now keep in mind at that time none of these sites existed so it was pure speculation. Positive speculation at that.

..And who knew that they would turn into poster boards for people to say on "i 3> j.lo":p :o

[acircularmotive]

I use myspace quite often and it is really good, when used correctly...

For me, 'correct' use of myspace means contacting people you already know.

This argument is posed constantly to me by friends, when I explain why I don't use myspace... but still it leaves me bewildered.. if you already know the people.. then why not talk on the phone, talk on an IM client, email them, or even put the effort into seeing them? It's ten times faster than leaving a comment at the bottom of someones poorly designed myspace, that they have to login to.

Do the founders of MySpace deserve to go to jail over this?

Perhaps not the 'legendary' Mr Tom, but I'm sure the world wouldnt mind if Mr Murdoch was kept out of the way for a little while... ;)

One more thought, MySpace web pages are probably the most sickening examples of web pages I've ever seen. Ewwww. If you don't know HTML, don't try.

Dear me.. when did having 8 different videos from 3 different hosting sites, and 12 bands songs on one single page render a website as 'well designed'? And thats before even looking at the horrid colours and table layouts... eww

No one is more committed to Internet safety than MySpace

I found that quote quite laughable.. something like MySpace is incredibly hard, if not impossible to keep secure.. there will always be naive kids that want to meet up with someone they've met on the Internet.. if the best MySpace can do is put a warning on the index page, it doesnt bode well for 'committing itself to Internet safety'.

*breathes*

Anyway, although I don't condone myspace as a social aid, and wouldnt be that bothered if it did shut down, I don't agree that people such as the woman mentioned, should be able to sue for her childs actions.

[chrismccorkle]

myspace should not have taken on the plight of senseless advertising to mid life crisis-living married men looking to refinance their house, consolidate their loans, or find true love ELSEWHERE.

[Redline13]

The only thing worse then people who are a little to into myspace (I think we all know a couple) are people who are a little to into complaining about it. Just my opinion.

[spicyapple]

I hope MySpace gets sued out of existence. Someone has been impersonating me and placed up a Myspace page with my name! I've tried contacting the operators of that site to shut down the page, and so far, I haven't received a response.

They really need to verify identities since there is so much room for abuse.

[Fearless Leader]

well isnt my space just awful. They have what 80 million subscribers and they are the 4th largest site acourding to alexa. even if 1 pecent of a percent of their subscribers were child targeting sexual predators thats still 8,000 people. its not myspace's fault its the mother's fault for not teaching her daughter.
I mean it sucks things like this happen

and hear is a thought for ya.
if this girl met this guy at the mall and this happened their is it the malls fault?