MySpace, Bebo, Friendster Faces US Ban

Popular social networking sites like such as MySpace, Bebo, Facebook, Friendster faces ban in US schools & libraries.

The Deleting Online Predators Act tries to limit the access of paedophiles to the networking sites which have become hugely popular with minors. The act has already been approved by a large majority in the House of Representatives.

The act covers federal institutions that received funding for computers and net access via the US E-Rate scheme - primarily schools and libraries. The American Library Association (ALA) estimates that two-thirds of US libraries receive this funding.

It requires these organisations to put in place filters to stop children viewing social networking sites where they might be subject to “unlawful sexual advances”.

Children will only be allowed to use the social networking sites if adults are present.

Children constitute a major demographic of social networking sites such as MySpace, Bebo, Facebook, Friendster etc.

Many schools in US have already banned pupils from using these networks over fears that the children are taking risks with the amount of information they are posting.

The act now passes to the Senate and a vote on its approval is likely to take place in early August. via BBC