TechNewsWorld Talkback

Re: Harvard Law Researchers to Helm Social Net Safety Group
Posted by: Jim Offner 2008-02-29 10:14:43

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Some legal minds are getting together to see what can be done to make sure that social networking Web sites like MySpace are exclusively kids' space. Researchers at Harvard Law School's Berkman Center for Internet and Society have been chosen to head up the Internet Safety Technical Task Force -- at the behest of 49 state attorneys general -- to look into possible technology-aided barriers to throw in front of predators -- and online bullies -- looking to hang out on Web sites the minors frequent.

Re: Harvard Law Researchers to Helm Social Net Safety Group
Posted by: Fire_Phoenix 2008-03-02 19:57:16 In reply to: Jim Offner

Something such as this is unlikely to ever happen. For one, some people have legitimate reasons to keep their identity a secret, such as they have dangerous enemies for whatever reason, or they may be innocent refugees. Then there's the concern of privacy, the fact that this personal information would be made available for any website that a person is signing up on, which may or may not be relevant under that particular case. Then there's the concern that setting up such a system is very delicate, and if a simple system such as age verification is used, there may be legitimate people of a mature age that wish to socialise, but will be blocked because of their age - In my country, that'd be called discrimination, and that's illegal!

Re: Harvard Law Researchers to Helm Social Net Safety Group
Posted by: lrosen9999 2008-03-01 10:17:37 In reply to: Jim Offner

FROM DR. LARRY ROSEN Professor of Psychology and Internet researcher: When I originally read the press release I had to stifle hysterical laughter. I'm sure that they have finally figured it out!!! An electronic solution! Wow! That is sure to stop those young kids from being online.... Yep .. that's right. Let's provide parents and social networks with more unusable electronic leashes. What happened to providing "parenting" instruction to these parents so that there is no reason for the kids to do anything bad without being aware of the consequences? I don't know what the task force costs but it is a band aid solution at best (and a leaky one at that). Do they really think that better electronic solutions are going to do anything at all to this generation of techno-savvy kids? You may as well try to hold your hands up to stop a tsunami. Within a few minutes of instituting any electronic barriers, the kids will have a “work-around” posted on their MySpace page and on a variety of websites that already have work-arounds for other electronic “solutions.” Perhaps parents would be better served to read my book: “Me, MySpace, and I: Parenting the Net Generation” for information on “real” solutions that involve no electronic barriers. More information about my work can be found at http://www.Me-MySpace-and-I.com

Re: Harvard Law Researchers to Helm Social Net Safety Group
Posted by: lrosen9999 2008-02-29 10:19:00 In reply to: Jim Offner

FROM DR. LARRY ROSEN: Thank you for your interesting summary of the new task force. When I originally read the press release I had to stifle hysterical laughter. I'm sure that they have finally figured it out!!! An electronic solution! Wow! That is sure to stop those young kids from being online.... Yep .. that's right. Let's provide parents and social networks with more unusable electronic leashes. What happened to providing "parenting" instruction to these parents so that there is no reason for the kids to do anything bad without being aware of the consequences? I don't know what the task force costs but it is a band aid solution at best (and a leaky one at that). Do they really think that better electronic solutions are going to do anything at all to this generation of techno-savvy kids? You may as well try to hold your hands up to stop a tsunami. Within a few minutes of instituting any electronic barriers, the kids will have a “work-around” posted on their MySpace page and on a variety of websites that already have work-arounds for other electronic “solutions.” Perhaps parents would be better served to read my book: “Me, MySpace, and I: Parenting the Net Generation” for information on “real” solutions that involve no electronic barriers. More information about my work can be found at http://www.Me-MySpace-and-I.com