While the idea is sane (Think of the CHILDREN!), this is a very slipperly slope. If myspace does this, then shouldn't facebook? and habbo hotel? and why not IMs while we're at it? and EMAIL! Our children could be conversing with predators via EMAIL! What if they talk to one on the phone? A warning message should be played on their phone calls!

The anonymous nature of the internet makes me think that educating children about predators in general, online AND off, is a much better solution.

i second bean.
just don't put private info on myspace.
if you get creepy messages from guys [like all girls and some guys do]... delete them or block the person. the end.

Sadly, parents do not pay as much attention to what their kids are doing online. So I think MySpace should step up in this department.

I don't know how to feel about it. That's pretty huge. I think maybe if they're caught soliciting people on MySpace, then maybe their profile should be flagged. But aren't perv accounts deleted anyway?

Okay... so how many sex offenders do you think registered on MySpace with their real name??? Hello! They're sex offenders. Dontcha think they used a false identity?

Prissy- you would be surprised with how many sex offenders dont hide their identity

I just think that with the success of things like To Catch a Predator and how many kids are using Myspace, the police just want to crack down on people soliciting.

I would say yes if they are subpoenaed

And what are they going to do with this information once they have it? Brand their MySpace with a big sign that says "sex offender"? I'm not saying that I defend sexual predators, but come on, this is going a bit overboard.

The best defense against sexual predators is an observant parent who monitors their child's internet activities (and there are even programs like Net Nanny which make it pretty simple). Not to mention the National Sex Offender Registry (here: www.familywatchdog.us/).

For sure.

I'd strongly recommend they do.

I agree with Prissy, and I think it would be impossible to identify sex offenders online especially on myspace because the Internet is all about anonymity. Anyone can use it anonymously from various locations. While a very nice idea; It would be practically impossible to do what they are discussing.

Yes, but people also need to be more careful about putting personal info on there.

This is a GREAT idea.

yes... the people need to be more careful, for the children

Bean makes a good point. While I did vote that MySpace should reveal predators, its true that they're everywhere and no matter what you do your kids may come in contact with them somewhere so educating them about what to do makes the most sense. Still, if these sites are revealing names, I would hope that predators would be less inclined to use those venues that do so.

tricky...great idea but im sure a sex offender will create false accounts once they are flagged.
basically im all for it but im sceptic.

hmmm interesting dilemma.

Yeah, I agree with others... What real sex offender would use his/her real information to sign up on MySpace or any other networking site? While I believe these sites need to cooperate with any law inforcement inquires and investigations, the real way to protect your child is to know what they are doing on the net and who are they talking to. It all starts at home, not at MySpace offices.

Maybe authorities could somehow use the IP number, then it wouldn't matter who they signed on as, or pretended to be?

I feel it's great Myspace wants to find the predators. Jinx above has a very good idea. I do, however, also feel parents need to know what their children are doing online too.

even though the comment was made a while ago, i do agree with bean.

i recently read an article about a school that was penalizing children for any kind of contact. One boy hugged his girlfriend at lunch and was sent home. Students were being expelled for a simple high five in the hallway. this school decided to go the whole way and ban everything, instead of dealing with the, "if he did that, then i can do this" proposition. Do we really need a problem like this online? No one will use websites or online resources anymore, because there will be no use in it. Would you really still use blogs and talk on the phone if changes were made like this? Probably not.

agreeing with bean on this one. it's a great idea, but i take it a step further. i actually think that everything on the net should reveal who's an offender and who isn't.

And just how are they going to "reveal" it to the public anyways?
A huge sign on their page that says "Sex Offender"?

I mean hello,they can always pretend to be someone else again, and the same thing will go on and on and on and on...

Definitely. I don't see why not.

really, the only reason children are getting abducted is because people put their first and last name, town, etc on theirs...!

personally, i dont put any of that.

if you get a message from a perv, block them. its very simple.

These problems could easily be solved if the kids didn't chat with people they don't know, and set their myspaces to private, and only added people the know in real life.
It's not that hard to be safe, it just takes a few extra steps.

This seems like a way for politicians to get some votes. Beware of the scary internet! It will hurt you and your children!

Obviously parents can't watch their kids 24/7, but the focus should be on educating children-parents could at least make sure their kids aren't putting up the wrong kind of info on their profiles.

This all seems like fear mongering to me, especially when the statistics have shown kids are safer now than a few decades ago. Oh well.

Also, not every sex offender is a pedophile pervert who wants to get children. Obviously, there is no excuse for committing a sex crime. Never ever. However, within the pool of offenders there are relatively few child predators. A neighbor of mine is on the list for having a relationship at 19 with a 16 year old. Inappropriate yes, and yes I would be careful with any kids I had being around him, but I'm not worried he's going to prey on the neighborhood kids.

I heard of a place where sex offenders get a "special" license plate. We are back to the scarlet letter but yes I think they should be identified although that should be a reason for the parents to fail to monitor their childrens web surfing.

for sure

abba gabba