Social networking sites investigated

With no legislation regulating social networking sites, children and teenagers using them are in danger of finding more than just friends, warns Computing Which?.

Researchers found pornography, bullying and unsuitable advertising on the two most popular social networking sites used by young people, MySpace.com and Bebo.com.

Alarmingly, Computing Which? set up an account pretending to be a 14-year-old without having to provide any proof of age or identity.  There’s no way of proving ‘teenagers’ are who they say they are online.

Social networking sites like Bebo and MySpace monitor photographs only after they’re posted onto the sites, so pornographic images can slip though the net before they’re discovered and deleted.  The sites rely heavily on members reporting this type of rule-breaking.

The internet provides a virtual playground for ‘cyber bullying’ – name calling and humiliation.  Researchers found one teenage boy’s web page asking friends to vote on whether a girl they knew had AIDS.

Without a charge to join, social networking sites rely on advertising that parents may not be happy for their children to be bombarded with; for example, MySpace in the US has an advertising deal with Burger King. 

Jessica Ross, editor, Computing Which? said:

“Children are spending hours every week on networking sites, building up their profiles and chatting with friends.  However, what might seem like innocent fun has a darker, more sinister side.

“Teenage users need to be aware that there is no way of knowing who is behind the face of a ‘friend’.   Networking sites, such as myspace.com and bebo.com, need to do more to protect their millions of trusting members.”

- Ends -

Notes to Editor

For further information, a PDF of the full report, images for reproduction, or an interview with Computing Which?, contact Nicole Sheinman

The full report, Innocent fun or guilty secret, includes tips for parents to help protect teenagers using social networking sites.

Computing Which? is a subscription-only computing magazine published 6 times a year by Which? For details on how to receive the next 2 issues of Computing Which? FREE, telephone 01992 822800 or visit which.co.uk

Footnotes    

The Which? food campaign is calling for an end to irresponsible marketing of foods to kids.  Further information is available at http://www.which.co.uk/kidsfood