Is there anybody out there but MySpace that doesn't see the endless string of lawsuits that are already beginning to unfold?
They have dropped the ball on this so badly and responded in such arrogance and idiocy, that I'm not sure advertisers will embrace them. Would you? The brand that supports pedophiles and predators?
Normally I'm a little suspicious of the enormous amount of frivolous lawsuits that pervade our culture, but in this case, it it just complete corporate breakdown.
One report today said: Is This your MySpace Friend?
A 14-year-old Texas girl, who has alleged that she was sexually assaulted by another MySpace user, has sued the company for $30 million, claiming it does not sufficiently protect underage members, reports the Associated Press. She says 19-year-old Pete Solis, arrested last month, lied in his online profile to gain her trust and obtain her phone number.
Reponse by Hemanshu Nigam, the chief security officer of News Corp.'s internet unit. "We want to balance the openness of our community with the interest of protecting the member."
Damage control. Damage control. I don't know about you, but I think this response shows the core of the issue: they want to balance community openness and protecting the child... ah, member I mean? If I was advertising with them I would be pulling everything I had until the problem was ferociously and proactively dealt with.
What kind of screwballs are these guys? Maybe we should start keeping track of advertisers that are stupid enough to use this site to make money on.
Don't you think this is outrageous after all the warnings?
If MySpace isn't a day care, then they better stop having children on their Web site.
I agree with you that many parents aren't properly supervising their children and should take a stronger role in this.
But this is a pattern that MySpace has fallen into and has known and done pretty much nothing about.
The old argument that its the victims fault doesn't hold water at all, as MySpace is going to find out soon enough.
Posted by: Gary Bourgeault | June 21, 2006 11:13 PM | Permalink to Comment