We Want Media

Have you ever seen those episodes of Dateline called "To Catch a Predator"? You know, the ones where Chris Hansen lures sexual predators off the Internet by setting up meetings with a 12-year-old girl, only to out them as the deviants they are on national television? Watching those silly, sick SOB's get busted is so dog'garn entertaining!

Well, a possible new law in Connecticut could make it a bit harder for Hansen to reel in all those potential perverts by stopping them right at the start. Connecticut has become the first state in the nation to introduce legislation that would require MySpace, other social networking sites and chat rooms to verify the ages of their users, with any postings made by those under 18 requiring parental permission. The idea is to see this eventually become a national law, putting parents back in control over their children.

Meanwhile, the people behind MySpace object to the law. Seems they'd rather provide tools to block communication and scan for sex offenders than impose a law.

In a statement, MySpace's chief security officer, Hemanshu Nigam, said, "The most effective means to protect teens online is through a combined approach involving features and tools to make our site safer, educating our users and their parents, and working collaboratively with online safety organizations."

While MySpace's efforts are noble, they're a lost cause if parents don't step up and monitor their childrens internet use. The law seems like it would be a way to force parents to do that, but at what cost? Having mandatory age verification and gaurdian permission for minors could set a sticky precedent. I'm surprised more high school kids aren't making a stink about this. How are they going to be able to curse their over-protective parents and express their inner rage against our public schools if they need to get permission to do so first? Bummer, man ...

All I know is, it better not effect those sweet Dateline specials.