Facebook will add more than 40 safeguards to protect young users from sexual predators and cyberbullies, attorneys general from several US states have announced. The news follows a similar announcement from MySpace after the social networking site was involved in a sexual predator scandal last year.

The changes include banning convicted sex offenders from the site, limiting older users' ability to search online for under 18s and a task force will be created to better verify users' ages and identities.

"Social networks that encourage kids to come to their sites have a responsibility to keep those kids safe," North Carolina attorney general Roy Cooper said. "We've now gotten the two largest social networking sites to agree to take significant steps to protect children from predators and pornography."

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There are 10 additional comments
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(1 reply) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #1 Posted by rural on 09 May 2008 - 13:22
How will they verify age?
Quote this comment #1.1 Posted by X'tyfe on 09 May 2008 - 13:32
(rural said @ #1)
How will they verify age?


exactly the problem rofl
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #2 Posted by C_Guy on 09 May 2008 - 14:15
"Social networks that encourage kids to come to their sites have a responsibility to keep those kids safe"

Very true and nice to see that attitude from Facebook. However, what a lot of people are losing site of is that the primary responsibility lies with parents.
(1 reply) Quote this comment Reply to this comment #3 Posted by n_K on 09 May 2008 - 15:40
so what if they hire a pedo for the task force ? or a pedo pays someone on the task force ?
and what if someone lies and says they're a year younger then they say they are, do you get banned ?
Quote this comment #3.1 Posted by billyea on 09 May 2008 - 22:26
(n_K said @ #1)
so what if they hire a pedo for the task force ? or a pedo pays someone on the task force ?

There's always going to be a weak point in the system, because it's run by humans. However, unless the majority of the task force is paid off or run by pedos, you can be rest assured that there will be regulation. Worrying about such aspects is paranoia.
Unless you were joking, of course.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #4 Posted by Aquafox on 09 May 2008 - 15:57
"banning convicted sex offenders from the site" -- how will they know when a sex offender registers at facebook...surely they may lie about their names and details?
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #5 Posted by +rm20010 on 09 May 2008 - 16:28
While they're at it, please for the love of God do something about those morons signing up with fake names to spam, or be a ******** - in both cases, usually for a large Facebook group. After all, reading ads about enlargement pills is naughty for kids.

Oh and Facebook users should be at least thirteen, or well on their way into a high school the upcoming year. If these measures are put in place to protect 10 year olds on Facebook signing up with fake high schools or no networks, then...
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #6 Posted by Shiranui on 10 May 2008 - 10:41
They should never of let kids on there in the first place.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #7 Posted by bluewind_89 on 11 May 2008 - 15:38
It would have been nice to keep it closed to people with university or company email addresses.
But, I guess expansion means more money.
Quote this comment Reply to this comment #8 Posted by Unplugged on 12 May 2008 - 08:59
The will take the porn site route and have boxes that pop up saying

Are you over 18?
Are you a Peadophile?
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