MySpace (News - Alert) has agreed to take steps to protect youngsters from online sexual predators and bullies, including searching for ways to better verify users’ ages.

 

In a joint effort to increase the safety of teens online, MySpace and Attorneys General in the Multi-State Working Group on Social Networking representing 49 states and the District of Columbia have unveiled a joint statement on “Key Principles of Social Networking Sites Safety” designed for industry-wide adoption.

 

The joint statement on Key Principles of Social Networking Sites Safety recognizes that an ongoing industry effort is required to keep up with the latest technological developments and to find additional ways to protect teens.

 

The Attorneys General called on other social networking sites and Internet providers with community features to adopt the Principles and bring their sites up to par with MySpace in terms of safety.

 

 “We thank the Attorneys General for a thoughtful and constructive conversation on Internet safety. This is an industry-wide challenge and we must all work together to create a safer Internet,” Hemanshu Nigam, chief security officer at MySpace, said in a statement.

 

He also explained that the principles that MySpace has adopted set forth what the industry needs to strive towards to provide a safer online experience for teens, and he also indicated that MySpace is looking forward to sharing the ongoing safety innovations with other companies.

 

The Principles of Social Networking incorporates safety initiatives that MySpace has already implemented, and also initiatives it will work to implement in the coming months.

 

MySpace safety features in place include reviewing every image and video uploaded to the site, reviewing the content of Groups, making the profiles of 14 and 15 year old users automatically private and protecting them from being contacted by adults that they don't already know in the physical world, and deleting registered sex offenders.

 

MySpace is also expected to explore the establishment of a children's email registry that will empower parents to prevent their children from having access to MySpace or any other social networking site.

In addition, under the Principles, MySpace will increase its communications with consumers who report a complaint about inappropriate content or activity on the site.

 

Ernie Allen, president and chief executive at National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, has agreed that his organization will serve on the new Internet Safety Technical Task Force.

 

“Today millions of teens use social networking sites. MySpace has taken significant steps to be more secure and private and to identify those who attempt to do harm on their site. The collaborative effort between MySpace and the Attorneys General is a major step that will make using social networking sites much safer for teens,” said Allen.