Tech Shout!

MySpace and other online sites have come under the scanner in recent times because of safety issues concerning teens. Now, in an effort to explore how children can avoid such unwanted contact as well as content when using MySpace, leading Internet scholars at Harvard University will lead a year-long task force.

In January 2008, MySpace had reached win agreement with all state attorneys except for the state of Texas. Now, this Internet Safety Technical Task Force is the result of this agreement.

MySpace created this entire force, named its members and even chose Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society to run it. However, the group will operate independently, said John Palfrey, Berkman’s executive director.

The task force will target children on social networking sites, besides exploring how to keep children safe from online bullies as well as pornography.

Palfrey said that the task force group would consider how technology could bring safety “without causing collateral damage.” Procedures for verifying users’ ages are expected to be among the topics of discussion.

In a shocking incident this Thursday, a 16-year old girl was attacked and raped by four people she had met on MtSpace.com. This too resurrected the fact that MySpace is a big bad world for young kids to hang out.

Hopefully, the newly appointed Internet Safety Task Force will be able to keep such evils that take place on the Internet from happening and save the unknowing victims in the form of helpless children and teens from permanent scarring.