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Rep Mark Kirk (R-IL) wants the FTC to issue a consumer alert because he believes Second Life could expose children to predators. He also believes it's a social networking site, which isn't quite accurate. From his press release:
"During the past five years, social networking Web sites like MySpace, Facebook and Second Life exploded in popularity," Congressman Kirk said. "As more kids flock to these sites, we've seen a corresponding increase of online sexual predators targeting children. According to a U.S. Department of Justice survey, one-in-five kids have been sexually solicited online. As new technologies develop, more disturbing revelations unfold. Sites like Second Life offer no protections to keep kids from virtual 'rape rooms,' brothels and drug stores. If sites like Second Life won’t protect kids from obviously inappropriate content, the Congress will."
Technically, you have to be 18 to use SL, but then again, you technically have to be 18 to view porn in general. The Trib article says one of Kirk's aides created an SL account and "within half an hour" was looking at pr0n.
Kirk says he doesn't know of any instances in which kids were targeted in Second Life, but his letter to the FTC says it "can pose as a 'virtual hunting ground' for pedophiles to prey on young children." [Kirk's release, Trib]
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"If sites like Second Life won’t protect kids from obviously inappropriate content, the Congress will."
aren't they bypassing good parenting as a measure? sounds like Kirk watched that very special episode of Law & Order: SVU and became inspired.
One time, I downloaded and signed onto Second Life. This avatar/girl from Malaysia came over and asked me what I was doing, and I said I didn't know why I had joined this. She agreed. I signed off and never looked back. Cuh-reeeeepy.
petey, totally agree about good parenting. Sadly, legislation is probably about the only thing that will come close to addressing the issue if (when) parents fail.
Here's a crazy thought...I don't know much about SL, but when it first started becoming well-known, people talked about how it truly was becoming a new world, with real currency, etc. Companies started investing in SL marketing programs, so someone could walk up to you in SL and sell you a cell phone contract, book, etc. One of the presidential candidates started a SL 'event', and it got vandalized by supporters of another candidate. So here's my thought: if you can conduct 'real' business on SL, can't you commit 'real' crimes? If showing a pornographic picture to a minor in real life is a real crime, shouldn't it also be a real crime in SL? I know, there's that whole anonymity-of-the-web thing to deal with, and the issue (at least part of it) is preventing exposure of porn to kids, not just punishing it after the fact. That's why it's just a crazy thought...
Showing porn to a kid in SL is a crime. This just mandates that schools pass out information to parents and creates an advisory panel (paid, undoubtedly) to 'report' (to Congress, I assume) how easily some information is accessed.
The press release reads like he's pretty clueless on the whole thing (unsurprisingly).
People still play Second Life?
All those numbers are people that signed up, played around for a little bit, then got bored and logged off, never actually canceling their account.
Kirk really is clueless.
Did anyone hear that some kids are actually using this for some good. A couple of months back I saw a special on Frontline. Kids with Asperger's and Autism are using SecondLife to communicate with each other. A few studies had found that it helps stimulate their minds in ways research doesn't.
My point is that the majority of the cases of children being sought by predators online can be traced back to parents not paying a cent of attention to what their kids do online.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmTXGQ2BhUA
Sorry for the double post.
http://www.autistics.org/secondlife.html
creepy kirky wants to regulate your internety.
creepy kirky needs to keep his perversions to himself.
pandering asshole.
Remember in the 90's when it was:
Child molesters are in AOL chatrooms!
And then, starting more recently:
Child molesters are on [insert social networking site]
And now:
Child molesters are in online gaming!
Well it was Mark Kirk. It's only a matter of time before the quacks at Illinois Family Institute or Illinois Review start bitching about it.
It's on valleywag too. Only this time with pictures of the dreaded Second Life "rape room".
Yes. Indeed the so-con freaks will be all about this. Second Life = Homosexual Agenda.
It's on valleywag too. Only this time with pictures of the dreaded Second Life "rape room".
Yes. Indeed the so-con freaks will be all about this. Second Life = Homosexual Agenda.
I've used SL for about 2 years. It's styled just like life. There are great places to go that do virtual class rooms and conferences. But there is also a red light district. There's a reason the easiest way to make money is to become a dancer/escort. But it is real money. You can exchange the money you make in the game for real dollars. Its about a 300:1 ratio.
The conferences are becoming more legit as more business come online. From American Outfitters to Sony, IBM and Microsoft.
I don't agree with SL when they stopped checking age when entering the adult version of SL. But in all profiles it will let you know if the age has been verified by CC.
There's porn on the internet??? Did Kirk just discover it for the first time?
I'm so ashamed he's my Congressman. Go Dan Seals!