MySpace: Murdoch's big hope, parents' nightmare

[Deja Q]

http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6041322.html?tag=zdfd.newsfeed

Rupert Murdoch saw a Web site with monster growth potential in MySpace.com, the online music and dating phenomenon that makes it easy for teens to find friends and express themselves.

The media mogul's News Corp. paid $580 million for MySpace last July. And even as he figures out how to turn more than 56 million MySpace members into higher Internet revenue for News Corp., there is another concern: the safety of its teen denizens.

The phenomenal growth of the Web site and popularity among youngsters has made it a magnet for adult sexual predators, authorities say.

Recent headlines that rival those in Murdoch's tabloids, such as "Man arrested in MySpace.com teen-sex case," "Sex predators are stalking MySpace; is your teenager a target?" and "Space Invaders" have dotted airwaves, newspapers and television news across the United States, triggering a nationwide backlash against the site.


Well, if murdoch is serious about his rants that the media is infested with filth, that means he'll do nothing with MySpace except make it more inviting for the child molesters too.

[BlueJazz]

1. I suspect Mr. Murdoch is very much like most Rich Republicans.

They fret and squawk about "Family Values" but in truth, they could
give a shit less, as long as it makes a buck...

[seabeyond]

2. i looked at it a couple weeks ago. kids young, i have already said NO

my kids wont be using that sight. too much stuff i didnt like. go figure, it is murdoch and repug christian family values

[msongs]

3. kids will just open a myspace account at somebody else's computer

instead of the one at your house.

if they want it bad enough that is.

Msongs
www.msongs.com/democratsmugs.htm

[seabeyond]

8. as of this point my kids trust me. we talk about stuff.

if they do it behind my back so be it. not what i am raising in my kids. though i am open in computer and internet use for them even at young age, just responsible. i am hoping they will be able to continue to have my trust. if not..... then we will see when it happens. but it wont be something i embrace in my house.

[savemefromdumbya]

4. that's Dr who?

Myapce.com lead to a murder here in Dec 05.

[Hippo_Tron]

5. Sorry, but I'm calling bullshit

Myspace is going to attract child molesters whether Rupert Murdoch owns it or not. There is no real way to keep kids safe other than parental supervision.

And to say that Rupert Murdoch isn't worried about child molesters is naive. Every time there is an incident related to myspace it becomes a PR problem for him.

[philosophie_en_rose]

6. Not entirely true.

They could do a better job of giving safety tips online. I'm really amazed at how much real information these kids give online. Not that parents have no responsibility - but it wouldn't hurt to have a reminder online too.

[Hippo_Tron]

7. And kids are really going to read or care about that reminder?

If it were my website I'd put one on just to please the masses, but the fact of the matter is that there are only two ways to really deter child predators from using the internet: Shut these sites down altogether or have parents take more responsibility.