Tech

MySpace throws out 29,000 sex offenders

Tech News

By Stevie Smith Jul 25, 2007, 15:25 GMT


Your Talkback on this Story

Note posts made on our older Talkback system will still show below. However, new posts can only be made via the new system (above). We will export the old comments to the new shortly. You can still comment as a guest on the new system but it also allows you to login using various social network and other accounts.

Other features coming soon.

Talkback

page: 1  2  3 

What?Jul 25th, 2007 - 15:59:32

Sex offenders cannot have a web page but a murder can? Talk about discrimination... What's next, parking ticket offenders?

Report this comment

Paul BenjouJul 25th, 2007 - 16:03:47

Friday, June 09, 2006, AdBlog www.myopenkimono.com
Has anything really changed in over a year?!

CONFESSIONS OF A MYSPACE USER
Turn to any of the trades and there is no doubt that there will be some article written about News Corp's MySpace.com site. The trades just can't stop chatting it up as the fastest growing social networking site on the net.
I couldn't help but wonder what all the hype was about and became a MySpace 'user' (I use the term in an non-addictive sense) about 2 months ago.
Having created a profile, albeit under a false name, I ventured into the twilight zone of MySpace.
I was immediately bombarded by users who wanted to 'be my friend'. People I did not know nor wanted to know. People who, laughably, had upwards of several thousand 'friends' on their profile. Useless banter with no redeeming social value other than curiosity and, dangerously, entrapment. In many cases I found the users to be trumped up imaginary persons often cloaked in the skin of others whose photos were 'borrowed'. Nothing on the site seemed real to the observing eye.
Browsing through the profiles I was not surprised to find sexually explicit and sometimes disturbing photos. I often worried about the kids who ran into these randomly accessible photos. I worried even more about kids that were underage and easily drawn into conversations with would-be predators.
Shocked at open profiles that suggested 'I love kids and often go to playgrounds to just watch them' I decided to abandon the generally unhealthy site.
News Corp has a tiger by the tail .... and if it doesn't do something very quickly to turn this site into a more controlled environment, they run the risk of government scrutiny and intervention.
Frankly, I don't care how profitable this site is. Supporting it with advertising will eventually backfire with enraged parents, schools and communities demanding action.
This is not about free speech or rights under the constitution. It's about social consciousness....not social networking.

Report this comment

BigJJul 25th, 2007 - 16:05:08

Sex-offenders all too often prey on children. They don't DESERVE to not be discriminated against. They're the worst SCUM alive. Bottom line. It's the way it works, kill hundreds of people but hurt children, and even the worst murderer in prison will hate you for that. And that's OK by me, cuz you hurt a child, you are scum. Period.

Report this comment

asdfJul 25th, 2007 - 16:05:30

And what happens when they start falsifying their information to join sites like this. Then what? Does the government have a record of their IP addresses to block them from sites like this?

Report this comment

DanJul 25th, 2007 - 16:05:32

You equate sex offenders with traffic citations? What were YOU arrested for?

Report this comment

right onJul 25th, 2007 - 16:07:47

way to go tom.

Report this comment

SeanJul 25th, 2007 - 16:18:57

Good move... but booting murderers would be a little more difficult... seeing as though you'd have to boot military personel, extremist religious people, politicians, investors in the oil industry, and cops. So Since these people run the world... murder is now an American Family value and is supposed to be smiled upon.... or you're a terrorist.

Report this comment

A New AnonymousJul 25th, 2007 - 16:20:06

This is just silly... how in heaven's name can you keep anyone off MySpace??? I just hope MySpace keeps
'co-operating' at least it will keep the anti-internet gov agents out of the mix a little longer.

Report this comment

Michelle BradleyJul 25th, 2007 - 16:22:07

I commend My Space on the action taken to expel sex offenders. However, as anyone familiar with stats on sex offenders will tell you, most crimes are overwhelmingly perpetrated on children by people that they know. Usually family members or people in their community. You can never be to careful.

Report this comment

agharJul 25th, 2007 - 16:22:26

Let's see here... You can become a registered sex offender for all sorts of reasons, even stuff that you'll see no jail time for.

Public urination.
Streaking.
Mooning.
Skinny dipping.


Technically, adultery and consensual oral or anal sex are crimes in many states that could land you in the registry, though most prosecutors wouldn't dare. The laws are on the books, though.

I feel really bad for anyone who committed admittedly minor offenses prior to the rise of the internet. Skinny dipping in 1994, maybe when you were a teenager, just got you banned from MySpace. Think of the kids!

Report this comment

what's the point?Jul 25th, 2007 - 16:25:43

Anyone can falsify information and join the site. Any child molester that really intends to use the site for such activities would just create another account...

Report this comment

Tori OhnoJul 25th, 2007 - 16:49:23

Does anyone here really think my name is Tori? I never use my real name, or information when I'm online. I do it to keep weirdos and predators from figuring out who I am, and where I am. It's what my parents taught me. Who's to say how many child molesters, murderers, drug dealers, etc. are actually still on myspace. It should be up to the parents to police their children, and teach them not to give out their information or talk to strangers. It's not myspace's responsibility to protect them. When will people step up and start taking care of their kids like they did 10 years ago? This whole thing is getting ridiculous. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR KIDS PARENTS! These monsters preying on them can't get to them if you teach them how to stay out of their reach.

Report this comment

NeebJul 25th, 2007 - 17:15:05

Too bad myspace is going down the tubes. Now every one is shifting their attention to Facebook. I'm a happy facebook user simply because when I go to someones page I know that their wont be junk all over the place.

Report this comment

llsgJul 25th, 2007 - 17:21:48

Well said, 'Tori'! Exactly what I wanted to say. Lack of personal responsibilty is the single biggest problem with our society right now. Every religion, politcal affiliation, race, gender and income bracket suffers from it at this time. There is always a way to blame or put responsibility on others and it has become sickening.
PARENTS NEED TO LEARN HOW TO BE PARENTS!!
I was raised by a single mother who had to work more than one job. Remember 'latch key kids'? What a retarded phrase. We were safe, knew what to say/not say on the phone, how to answer/not answer the door and take care of ourselves enough while still feeling like kids not fake grown ups. If there had been internet yet when I was a kid she would have taught us how to be responsible and safe there also. GOOD PARENTING, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR ONE'S ACTIONS AND COMMON SENSE ARE SORELY NEEDED!.
By the way, I hate child molesters and sex offenders as much as anyone, and actually support MySpace's decision but had to comment on the lack of parental responsibilty, which is the REAL problem.

Report this comment

chargedJul 25th, 2007 - 17:34:23

hang all the sex offenders, they're worthless pieces of garbage.

Report this comment

chemhooJul 25th, 2007 - 17:34:40

People can be sex offenders because they streaked in college or peed on a wall drunk. Not everyone on the list is some evil people waiting to have sex with a child. Not to mention not all offenses are even felonies. Why limit the rights of someone who streaked? Why focus on this particular group when there are 1000's of other people who present a much greater threat. Only morons let fear and ignorace influence their decisions

Report this comment

where's the responsability?Jul 25th, 2007 - 17:36:50

I've got one question... Where are the parents of these children? Instead of expecting myspace to raise peoples children why can't the parent? If the parents would know what the child is getting into and pay attention to them they'd know that they shouldn't be there and they'd tell the child not to or block the website or any number of parental controls that are available. Do these parents also let there children play on the highway?

Report this comment

Now we knowJul 25th, 2007 - 17:44:14

Tori is really Fred Flintstone

Report this comment

??Jul 25th, 2007 - 17:45:03

Or was that Spiderman

Report this comment

I just hopeJul 25th, 2007 - 17:46:21

That anyone that calls themselves stevie is a girl

Report this comment

page: 1  2  3 

Similar articles

New Neilsen technology to help media producers curb online video piracy
Assessing potential employees via social network sites could be illegal
Watchdog warns against the dangers of social networking
Facebook's purchasing Beacon causes a ruckus
Social networks: Millions warned against falling to online fraud

Latest Headlines in Tech

Bookmark and Share Share

From Sites We Like

Latest PopEater News

Robert Downey Jr. Likes View from the A-List
Today's Best Celebrity Twitters for 11/10
Mysteries of 'Toni Braxton,' 'Madoff Auction,' 'Prejean Sextape' Solved
It's the End of the World, and We Love It
Put Down the Phone: Celebrity Voicemail

Latest Cinema Blend News

Harrison Ford's Extraordinary Measures Poster
Exclusive Women In Trouble Character Poster
Joel Silver Finally Revives Sgt. Rock By Bringing Him To The Future
Belgian Actress De France Joins Damon In Hereafter
Mad Men Creator Weiner Delays His Feature Directing Debut

Latest Tech Herald News

Intel Reader revealed for dyslexic book lovers
NASA and Mayan priests working to quash 2012 fears
AT&T offers Lightning connectivity anytime and anywhere
Electronic Arts splashes the cash for Playfish
EA drops 1,500 jobs as Activision trumpets Modern Warfare 2
USA