COPPA and Social Networks

Posted January 25th, 2007 by Char Lyn

When the news broke last Thursday that MySpace is again being sued for not doing enough to protect its members from sexual predators, the blogosphere reacted quickly. In a survey of over 40 blogs referring to the incident, all that expressed an opinion said that child safety comes from parents being more involved in their children’s online lives. 

In 2000, the FTC tried to help parents by enacting COPPA, which requires commercial websites to actively protect the privacy of anyone under the age of 13. Although already in compliance with COPPA policies, MySpace is showing its commitment to safety with a new tool that will allow parents to track their children’s online usage. Some critics think this tool will lead to MySpace’s downfall, but I think it will survive. Trust me – determined kids will find a way around parental surveillance. 

I don’t think the answer lies in technical solutions such as tracking software (though those tools do help). The answer is education. 

My call to the blogosphere: Don’t wait for the FTC to create more stringent acts that restrict the rights of all. Instead, take an inexperienced parent or two under your wing and empower them with the information they need to guide their children through the internet. Whether you do it through friendship or teaching a class at your local public library, it’s a way for you to give back to the community and promote the value and diversity of the social media we all produce.

Entry Filed under: Social Networking, Digital Content