My Space, Your Space, Now Separate Space

The blogosphere is rife with reports of sexual predators using MySpace for locating their prey. Mounting pressure from parent groups, law enforcement, as well as its own community, is forcing MySpace to take measures to restrict adult and teen interaction -- without alienating its 85 million members.

At least one lawsuit against MySpace has been filed on behalf of minors, and in March, two men were arrested over sex charges after allegedly using the site to meet two girls under 14. MySpace responded to criticism earlier this year by appointing Hemanshu Nigam as chief security officer, and alerting members to the dangers of sexual predators with on-site ads.

Other new rules

• adult members (18+) are prohibited from joining a group of 14- or 15-year-olds, unless they know the younger members' e-mail address or full name;
• members may request not to be contacted by anyone outside of their age group;
• all members may display either full or partial profiles, whereas previously the full profiles of anyone over 18 were available to all members.

MySpace has made progress in its effort to attract advertising. Walt Disney Pictures has contracted with MySpace to build buzz for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. Pages designed for major advertisers, including several Pepsi-Cola beverage brands, are being championed as a safe approach to social-networking sponsorship.

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