Let me clarify the statement I posted on my blog. http://www.bizzyblogz.com/kennethsword/2524/MySpace+Is+Sued+For+%2430+Million+....html "But, MySpace's lack of security and allowing the age to be as low as it is shows they are just as bad of making youth the victims. Victims of advertising and other propoganda put in the kids faces. They read it, want it and demand it. They see older adults talk and watch their behaviors. I have yet to see any real role models chatting at MySpace. And this is what the youth sees. They mimic it and there you have why our kids are doing this stuff, too. So, the real question is "Do youth have the intelligence to handle social networking (Also known as community sites)?" ------------------------- Here is a clearer picture of what I said. Here is a company website that has both youth and adults. Many ads are placed targeting the youth. (we know how they like to spend the parent's money.) The youth become a victim of advertising for one. Next, the company has allowed the mix of youth and adults in the same communty. Even though that most adult posts are not pornographic there are some. So, again, the youth becomes the victim. There isn't any 18+ check in place as well as checking youth's age. There are links to report a bad or porno post but what youth will do that? They are intrigued because they are starting to learn of their own sexuality. Should children/youth be allowed to enter a binding contract of TOS with a company? No. How many have read the TOS and understand them? Should children/youth be allowed to enter a social site where adults are present and will talk about anything? No. The mindset of kids vs. adults are so way different and at least some adults do show moral judgement when kids are around but not all do. So, should a company, knowing about freedom of speech, free press, and the unmoral aspects that adults will share, allow children/youth access to this by membership? I, personally, think not. So is MySpace guilty? Not of the rape issue but of the other things I have said. Thanks for listening. __________ Kenneth R Sword Jr Co-CEO - Bizzy Blogz http://www.bizzyblogz.com Sponsor of the ABA Basketball 'Streetball' group "Nothing But Net Entertainment" http://www.bizzyblogz.com/NBNE/ New! Bizzy Blogz Community - like MySpace http://www.bizzyblogz.biz An Advertising Traffic Machine http://www.megatraffic.us/ http://www.frappr.com/bizzyblogzcommunity

Hi Ken I'm with you all the way on this. I've just posted a new web address which will be like the sword of Damocles, hanging over the heads of online sexual predators. They will now have to think twice before engaging in grooming young girls and boys for sex. The site address is, as pasted below. www.virtualglobaltaskforce.com Just copy & paste it into your browser, and take a look everbody! Best Ian McKay

True, all true Ken. But again, we're out to make rules to protect us from ourselves. Where are the parents in all of this? They should have SOME idea of what their kids are up to on the internet. That's their job too.

I understand where you're coming from, but I disagree. MySpace has united literally thousands of high school students, giving them a way to communicate with each other. My teen talks to students at her school that she would not otherwise get a chance to talk to. She enjoys MySpace and uses it responsibly. Why should she be punished because silly non-thinking teens are making bad decisions and going out to meet strangers? And why should she be punished because other parents aren't doing their jobs? Personally, I would like to know the actual statistics on this problem. What percentage of teens have been hurt by MySpace? I would wager that more are being attacked, raped, and killed while being away from home on weedend nights than are being hurt by MySpace connections. My child? She's at home with me on weekends (mostly), and she's chatting with her friends at MySpace.com. Just my two cents worth.

Kenneth, Thanks for this clarification. The forum thread I replied to became a running commentary on personal responsibility. Without taking anything away from that, your point is well-taken that children don't have the maturity (I'm substituting that for your word, intelligence) and judgement to be allowed to interact with strangers on the internet without close supervision. I say strangers, not adults, because the adult who victimized the child in that story was posing as another, albeit older, child. What one of us can say with certainty that any of us is the person we present to the online community? We have never met, for the most part. Trust must be tempered with judgement. Kids don't have that. Period. Your point that the site is at least guilty of setting up the potential for this kind of abuse is also well-taken. There should be some kind of accountability, even if it's only a change in their policies and procedures. Cheri