MySpace to Offer Spyware for Parents

mrspin writes "Following continuing pressure from politicians (and parts of the media), MySpace is planning to offer parents the chance to download software which will monitor aspects of their children's activities on the social networking site. From a business point of view, the move appears to be a highly risky one. The young users of social networking sites are notorious for their lack of loyalty — and history suggests that a change like this could tempt many to abandon MySpace for the 'next cool thing'."

Comments

As I said to my wife...

[bhsx]

My wife and I just demanded the myspace password for my step-daughter's account (she's 12). I kick myself for not paying any attention to that damned site, because of it's sheer obnoxiousness and ugly designs. If I had paid attention I'd have a better feel for all the "ins-and-outs" of the stupid site. I was glad to see this information brought up on the local news here; but like I said to my wife:
The kids will just go someplace else.
So who wants to fund the next "myspace killer" with me? :P

Re:As I said to my wife...

[bhsx]

She's 12 years old. I thought it was the parents responsibility to monitor what there kids are doing online. Isn't that right? Sure, we can just view her myspace page and take it for granted that we're seeing everything. I was just glad to see that she had actually listened to us and not given-up any identifying information.
As I already said, I don't know the ins-and-outs of myspace; but I sure as hell know what's going on if we have her password.
Label me whatever you want, but she has no right to use my computer, network, or home(for that matter) in ways that her mother and I don't see fit.
Even better that it didn't take my threatening to install a key-logger for her to cough-up the password(because I certainly would have, it's my system, she's a child).

So much for that ...

[Anonymous Coward]

Not your space anymore, son.

Parental Paranoia

[jorghis]

Just because your kids dont want you to know every single detail of their life doesnt mean that they are hooking up with 35 year olds. People take this business of monitoring their kids internet use too seriously. Would you tap your teenagers phone calls? If not whats the difference?

Re:Parental Paranoia

[kfg]

Would you tap your teenagers phone calls?

I don't have to. Like any good parent I smothered my daughter in bubble wrap and then crated her. Nice and safe. Nothing's too good for my princess. She can come out when she's 21. If I think she's mature enough.

Oh, wait, shit, she's 26 now.

Hoooooooney? Where's the crowbar? And what's that smell?

KFG

What's that sound?

[sporkme]

NFTFA:

An source which requested to remain anonymous stated that the new feature was to be entitled Myspace DeathKnell and stated that the board of directors was optimistic about the future of the social networking giant. "The future is bright. Much like the Titanic, this ship is unsinkable. The difference is that there is not a single iceberg in sight," stated another unnamed source.

With any luck, this will be the third-to-last /. article about MySpace.

Armageddon

[Anonymous Coward]

My GOD, it's DOOMSDAY. Myspace users will begin to leave myspace and begin to infect the rest of the internet. KILL ME NOW!

Re:HA HA HA

[zappepcs]

I almost forgot; queue the spammers with links to software download sites to allow you to monitor your children's activities. Nothing like a legit reason to download a keylogger... sheesh I can see it now. The next big virus will come disguised as a child protection monitoring software from https://d0wnl0ads.myspace.com/protect.cgi

How will they verify it's the real parents?

[DrJimbo]

Even if this move doesn't drive away the kids, if nogoodniks are able to pretend to be parents and monitor the activities of other peoples' kids, this is going to be a nightmare.

Perhaps I am dull witted tonight, but I can't imagine how they can make this spyware foolproof.

Solution to crappy parenting?

[PoitNarf]

Better software!

Re:Solution to crappy parenting?

[glwtta]

So, that's a nice knee-jerk reaction there, but better parenting potentially involve having some idea of what your kid is up to with these things, no?

Re:Solution to crappy parenting?

[dk.r*nger]

You're right!
I've invented a perfect device for this purpose:
The KitchenTable(tm) (patent pending)

You install this device in a commons area of your home, and then one day you sit your kid down at the table and ass him or her, "OK, (name), I would never spy on you, but I keep hearing so much about MySpace and predators. Would you please walk me through the site and show me what it's all about? That would really make me more comfortable." (conversation NOT included).
This will in most cases cause the child to agree, and show the parent around the site (Warning: child/parent bonding may occur). If the tactic fails, the KitchenTable (tm) may be returned for a full refund, reddemable towards the purchase of The Dungeon (tm).

Too Technical?

[elwin_windleaf]

Okay, let's disregard whether parents would/should need a piece of software to help them watch their children.

More importantly, how are these parents going to install and use this software? I would say that the majority children are more tech-savvy than their parents, and aren't likely to willingly help their parents peer into their private life.

So, how are parents going to install and configure a piece of software that will require user names and other information they might need to ask their children for anyways? What's to stop a child from setting up a dummy account to render the software useless?

Just a thought...

[Anonymous Coward]

but kids will be thrilled since they now can monitor their parents' behaviour on myspace.

Re:Maybe I'm just wierd

[SeaFox]

Sure seems everyone else is gun ho for it.

I seem to see it as:
Everyone's all for spying, until they're the ones being spied on.

Re:Children are innovative.

[donaldm]

At some stage (normally when the child gets into their teens) the parent has to start letting go and relaxing their supervision (this is called trust). It is very important for a parent to talk to their child and as the child gets older the dialog must become more meaningful so that greater trust when given is something a child can look forward to earning.

Children are curious and will always try to see how far they can go before they overstep their boundaries. As parent it is up to you to define those boundaries with out being too restrictive although this can be a very difficult thing. Again this is were dialog comes in. It is normally a "cop out" on the parent's part to blindly agree with so called "well meaning" people who state that they are protecting their child's freedom because children are always going to do the wrong thing. Too many parents are willing to put their child's moral upbringing in the hands of people who probably have no idea of how to bring up a child themselves.

I have mainly trivialised this but common sense must prevail between parent and child and a parent must be willing (even if it is embarrassing) to discuss everything especially sex with their child, otherwise the child will find out anyway and usually from their peers who don't know that much or who have distorted view.

Hence if a parent does not know when asked a question by their child then the onus is on them to find out and come out with the correct answer that is not clouded by prejudice even though the parent may not like it because of their upbringing. If you as a parent can handle this you may actually learn something as well.

I don't mean to say that bringing up a child is easy, it is not, but meaningful dialog can go along way.