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AG: Facebook agrees to make changes

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By the Lincoln Journal Star

Thursday, May 08, 2008 - 01:44:24 pm CDT

Attorney General Jon Bruning joined 48 other attorneys general in announcing that social-networking site Facebook agreed to changes to better protect children from predators and inappropriate content.  

Facebook agreed to:

* Provide automatic warning messages when a child is in danger of giving personal information to an unknown adult;

Story Photo
Attorney General Jon Bruning

* Restrict the ability of users to change their listed ages;

* Act more aggressively to remove inappropriate content and groups from the site, and

* Require third-party vendors to follow Facebook’s safety and privacy guidelines.

“We know predators use Facebook and other social sites to prey on children," Bruning said in a statement.  "Facebook's changes will help provide a safer online environment for Nebraska’s kids.”

The agreement is similar to one that MySpace reached in January with 49 states and the District of Columbia.

MySpace agreed to head a task force, which Facebook has joined, to explore and develop age and identity identification for social networking sites.

Bruning said Web safety is a priority for his office.


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Step up Parents wrote on May 8, 2008 2:55 pm:
" Come on - is it the websites job to be the police. Next the phone systems better start checking that everyone who phones/text is not misrepresenting themselves. I think this is better left up to parents to actually play the role of PARENT and be responsible for their kids. Parents need to monitor their childrens use of computers/phone/tv etc. for themselves. "

 Ed wrote on May 8, 2008 2:55 pm:
" At least we know there is some priority in that office. "

 CS wrote on May 8, 2008 4:33 pm:
" Predators sit in public parks, too. The sitting in the park isn't necessarily a crime-neither is being on a website. The websites have all done pretty much anything ever asked of them by lobbyists, Congress, and busybody, lazy parents that want to point their finger anywhere else but at themselves. Thanks for enabling another generation of useless parents who think its everyone else's job to take care of their children. "

 Amber wrote on May 8, 2008 4:33 pm:
" i think that the law is there for a reason- to protect children when the parents may not know how to or realize the importance of internet safety. i hate that people tend to think that it is all the parents responsibility. if you have ever worked in a community center or low-income school, you will realize that not all parents are like those of the middle/high income status. i suspect that "Step Up Parents" is from a society where he/she has a great relationship with his/her children and are ignorant of what happens outside his/her bubble. "

 Scott wrote on May 8, 2008 5:04 pm:
" The reality is there is no 100% way to protect children, whether on or off the internet. The best protection is for parents to a) learn what the dangers and good behaviors are, b) model good behavior, and c) teach their children to be responsible. Oh, and have a good, trusting relationship with your children. That way they'll actually want to tell you what's going on. "

 me wrote on May 8, 2008 7:42 pm:
" This just sounds like a stupid press release from his office. I'm am so glad that he is riding the coat tails of 48 other states. "

 Big Chief wrote on May 9, 2008 8:34 am:
" Maybe it is time to require permits issued by the government before a child can be conceived?

Every female in the country when reaching age seven would be given a vaccine that prevents pregnancy. When that Female has been happily married for five years to the same Man they could then be issued a permit to have a child if other conditions have been met also. Conditions like adequate income, ability of both parents to raise a child to maturity. To those who would say this is sexist because it just targets Females I say it is because they get pregnant.

Just think how many of Society's problems could be solved with a system like this. "

 as wrote on May 9, 2008 9:01 am:
" As a single parent on the low side of income, I take offense to Amber's very general comments regarding our involvement with our kids. Being low income or high income or well established does not define your relationship with your children or how you raise them. Being able to monitor your child's activities comes from your own value system & has little to do with the amount of $ you bring home. I monitor the web, tv, radio & other activities of all 3 of my kids. Step up to the plate already, parents! Quit looking for various community agencies, state agencies & others to do it for you or provide you with excuses for your failure. "

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