No, your local congressional representative will not be joining your network of friends (nothing worse than creepy old guy on MySpace). But what Congress is looking at is banning access to MySpace and other social network sites from schools and libraries. From the News.com article:
Now MySpace and other social-networking sites like LiveJournal.com and Facebook are facing a new threat: a proposed federal law that would effectively require most schools and libraries to render those Web sites inaccessible to minors, an age group that includes some of the category's most ardent users...Why?Fitzpatrick and fellow Republicans, including House Speaker Dennis Hastert, on Wednesday endorsed new legislation (click here for PDF) that would cordon off access to commercial Web sites that let users create public "Web pages or profiles" and also offer a discussion board, chat room, or e-mail service.
That's a broad category that covers far more than social-networking sites such as Friendster and Google's Orkut.com. It would also sweep in a wide range of interactive Web sites and services, including Blogger.com, AOL and Yahoo's instant-messaging features, and Microsoft's Xbox 360, which permits in-game chat.
Fitzpatrick's bill, called the Deleting Online Predators Act, or DOPA, is part of a new, poll-driven effort by Republicans to address topics that they view as important to suburban voters.
Visitor Comments
Won't somebody please think about the children?
Posted by: Helen Lovejoy | May 11, 2006 1:28 PM
I don't think Congress needs to step in. I think schools should block the social networks individaully. Children should not be "playing" on the social networks during the school day anyway, they can do that in their spare time. As for keeping creepy old men away from our kids, parents need to keep computers in a central location and kids need to have resources such as Cybertipline handy in case they are approached or there is illegal behavoir online. Congress doesnt need to step in. Parents need to just be accountable, its that simple.
Posted by: Ashley | May 11, 2006 3:10 PM
Honestly, I do not believe that librarians, school officials, or even the US Congress has the technological means or authority to commence such a brash and utterly cumbersome campaign against social networking. I mean, lets get real here folks.
Posted by: Justin Hunt | May 11, 2006 4:15 PM
Exactly.
And I suppose all the other problems have been solved, the deficit is down to pre-Bush levels, as are gas prices. Iraq has been pacified and we have universal heath care?
Oh, sorry....
Posted by: david parmet | May 11, 2006 11:06 PM
Whoa, whoa, whoa... At first I didnt really have a problem with this. I can't stand MySpace and people complaining about "Why am I not in your top 8?". Besides the fact that the pages are all very un-appealing to look at, and sometimes even eye-sores with backgrounds right out of Magic Eye posters. But now, they want to dip into XBOX 360 in-game chat? What good is it if I can't tell some 12 year old in Iowa to f@%k off after fragging his @ss and capturing the flag?
Posted by: Osh | May 12, 2006 4:26 PM
DOPA is part of a bigger move on the part of Republicans--Rep. Kirk commissioned a poll of suburban voters in contested districts to find out what their concerns were. Details and links:
http://lizditz.typepad.com/i_speak_of_dreams/2006/05/quick_call_your.html
Posted by: Liz | May 13, 2006 12:07 PM