Myspace Agrees to New Safety Measures

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - MySpace has agreed with Mississippi and 48
other states to take steps to protect youngsters from online sexual
predators and bullies, including searching for ways to better
verify users' ages.
The popular online network said yesterday it will create a task
force of industry professionals to improve the safety of users.
Other social networking sites will be invited to participate.
Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood says it's important to let
children know they are sharing themselves with the world when they
use the sites.
The deal comes as sites such as MySpace and Facebook have grown
exponentially in recent years, with teens making up a large part of
their membership. The growth has created a new potential venue for
sexual predators who lie about their age to lure young victims.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)