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'."

Maybe I'm just wierd

[pembo13 (770295)]

for not liking being spied on. Or mass spying of other. Sure seems everyone else is gun ho for it.

Re:Maybe I'm just wierd

[SeaFox (739806)]

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:Maybe I'm just wierd

[jimicus (737525)]

Yet those same people give me funny looks when I ask them what their salary is and why they're wearing clothes.

Re:

[takeya (825259)]

The best I've come up with in response to that mantra has been "I have plenty to hide - deep, dark, disturbing secrets that you would be shocked to know. That's why I'm being so careful about hiding them" followed by a wink and a grin.

Re:

[Philip K Dickhead (906971)]

Maybe those kids should read the previous Slashdot story...

As I said to my wife...

[bhsx (458600)]

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:

[by Anonymous Coward]

People under the age of 13 are not allowed to sign up for an account on myspace. His daughter must have lied about her age in order to get an account in the first place.

Re:As I said to my wife...

[bhsx (458600)]

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).

Re:

[Propaganda13 (312548)]

You're better off just talking to her.
Otherwise, you'll find out too late that
1. the account you have a password to isn't her only account
2. the monitoring software you installed was bypassed by a LINUX LIVE CD or usb drive
3. she's using a friend's computer
4. she's safe from online predators, but not her 13 year old boyfriend living down the block.
5. etc.,etc.,etc.

Re:

[Mike89 (1006497)]

the monitoring software you installed was bypassed by a LINUX LIVE CD

Damn those 12 year old female Linux fanatics!

Re:

[Fulcrum of Evil (560260)]

She's 12 now. In a year or two, she'll be 14, and well on her way to adulthood. I agree with the others here: talk to her. She isn't a little girl any more, so it's time to take a less authoritative stance - how else will she learn to function as an adult?

Re:As I said to my wife...

[Professor_UNIX (867045)]

I think more likely than not, your real intentions at the time were to take the opportunity to establish authority over her, while simultaneously making a show for your wife.

Dude, she's *12*, not 18. He is absolutely correct to assert his authority over her actions in order to protect her. If he didn't do that then he'd be guilty of being an absentee parent letting his computer babysit his kids.

or just keeping them to her cellphone and txts. 99% of all trouble kids get in to involves the cellphone that their parents ironically gave them to keep them out of trouble.

Again, she's *12*. How many 12 year olds do you know with cell phones? Maybe I'm out of touch, but I didn't get a cell phone until I was 19 and that was because my car was such a piece of shit that I was sick of being stranded on the side of the highway when it broke down that I went and bought one myself. That was only 12 years ago.. I doubt the situations have changed much where suddenly all the kids have a cell phone now. Cell phones are for super-elite rich kids.

Re:

[Mojojojo Monkey Inc. (174471)]

Congratulations, you truly are out of touch as you worried. You honestly thought the cell-phone situation in 2007 is the same as 1995? They're incredibly cheap now and within even the poorest family's budget ($0 for a phone with a family plan). Lots of kids of all ages in all sorts of countries and socioeconomic statuses do indeed have them, with varying degrees of restrictions. Some phones will only call three or four pre-programmed numbers (Home, Mom's cell, 911, Grandma) which I think is a great ide

So much for that ...

[by Anonymous Coward]

Not your space anymore, son.

Children are innovative.

[by Anonymous Coward]

Children are innovative. Even if they don't move to different social networking sites, they'll find some way around this spyware.

I'm sure the developers of this software spent much time during their youth trying to hide and protect their ill-obtained, yet sacred, copies of Hustler, Penthouse and Playboy. Just as they succeeded then, the youth of today will no doubt succeed in protecting the Web activities they hold sacred.

Re:Children are innovative.

[Turn-X Alphonse (789240)]

You assume Myspace users are smart enough to realie it's been installed.

Re:Children are innovative.

[donaldm (919619)]

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.

Re:

[Paulrothrock (685079)]

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.

That's very nice. I'm sure they'll have no problem monitoring their kids online activities when they lose the house and internet access because they ge

Re:

[aplusjimages (939458)]

not only are kids innovative, so are sexual predators. how long until they find a way to use this spyware to monitor their favorite kiddies?

HA HA HA

[zappepcs (820751)]

I thought that MS was the only company that could so effortlessly shoot themselves in the feet. Parental monitoring should pretty much put an end to much of the MySpace userbase.

Interestingly, if parents can do this with some software, is the government already doing it for them, but just not telling? I have to wonder about any company that will offer to 'spy' on you or your kids. I'm sort of interested in finding out how they will know that it is a parent of the account holder they are willing to spy on? Does the software have to be installed on the same computer as the child uses? That would only last about a week before its cracked.... expect YouTube videos on how to disable it within the week.

Re:HA HA HA

[zappepcs (820751)]

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 [myspace.com]

Parental Paranoia

[jorghis (1000092)]

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:

[cdrdude (904978)]

"Would you tap your teenagers phone calls?" My parents sure would have. My sister has caught them looking through saved iChat logs (iChat can be set to save all of your conversations). I routinely use a who command in terminal if I have it open to see who's looking at what I'm doing.

Re:Parental Paranoia

[kfg (145172)]

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

Re:Parental Paranoia

[glwtta (532858)]

Would you tap your teenagers phone calls? If not whats the difference?

Most parents can safely assume their kids are only talking to people they personally know? Not really advocating one side or the other here, just saying - it's a real difference; there are others, too.

Re:

[pipatron (966506)]

A vast majority of the sexual crimes against children are from people they know.

Re:

[snarkth (1002832)]

Trust.

What's that sound?

[sporkme (983186)]

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.

Re:

[glwtta (532858)]

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

Why would that be a good thing? I love MySpace - having one place for so many people that I don't want to have any interaction with is great! All I have to remember is: "Don't go to fucking MySpace."

Armageddon

[by 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:

[HAKdragon (193605)]

Just leaving some slashdot luv! Holla!

How will they verify it's the real parents?

[DrJimbo (594231)]

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.

Well designed, ill reciecved

[zokrath (593920)]

According to the article, the software only shows what name, age, and location the user is claiming. It does not provide any other information.

This is a well thought-out solution, as it provides the important information while still providing privacy to the user.

Unfortunately, for many teens any information is too much to share, and many parents think that any privacy is too much to allow.

Solution to crappy parenting?

[PoitNarf (160194)]

Better software!

Re:Solution to crappy parenting?

[glwtta (532858)]

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 (460754)]

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 (643442)]

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?

Useless

[delirium of disorder (701392)]

Parents who install the monitoring software on their home computers would be able to find out what name, age and location their children are using to represent themselves on MySpace. The software doesn't enable parents to read their child's e-mail or see the child's profile page

So it tells the parents the exact same information they would get by searching for their kids name, email, or username on myspace. Even the private/hidden profiles that I've seen still show username, age and location. How is downloading some proprietary software to get publicly available information useful?

Seriously...

[thief_inc (466143)]

I say this as a parent. If US citizens do not have a right to privacy from corporations, why should a 13 year olds have a right to privacy from their parents?

not expected to be very invasive

[adrianmonk (890071)]

In a related story, when polled, several industry experts suggested that this new myspace software was not expected to be an invasion of privacy at all. Asked how software that was specifically intended to track the actions of another individual could be anything other than invasive, the experts responded, "Oh, yes that's a good point. It's pretty simple really: we are basing our analysis on software that myspace has produced in the past, like the web site, and based on this analysis, we've concluded tha

Fixing bugs would help better

[melikamp (631205)]

Wow, great move, MySpace. Now, how about taking all that energy and channeling it into, um, I don't know, preventing Tom's profile from being hacked?

Just a thought...

[by Anonymous Coward]

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

Responsible

[Frosty Piss (770223)]

Most people's attitude about things like this change drastically after they actually have kids of their own to be responsible for.

Re:

[RvLeshrac (67653)]

Or perhaps the people commenting on what a stupid idea this is actually... you know... do some parenting?

I know plenty of people who see no reason to monitor their children. If you can't trust your kids, perhaps it is time to take another look at how you've raised them.

Re:

[gillbates (106458)]

I wasn't a *bad* kid, but that doesn't my parents had reason to trust me completely. I pushed the limits, and I suppose my children will do the same. In fact, I've got a two year old who is doing that right now. Reason does not apply to the mind of a child, unfortunately.

Kids push the limits because they haven't yet learned that limits exist. It's kind of like running into the street without looking. You and I can figure out that just because you do it once and didn't get hurt doesn't mean it's safe

Mistrust will not help your children at all....

[gweihir (88907)]

As parents, the only thing you can do is try to be as trustworthy as possible. If you have reasonable success, your children may actually heed your warnings or at least realize when they are in trouble anc come to you for advice. You cannot get more. Monitoring, threats, harsh limits, etc... will just cause your children to leave home when they can and think bach of you as cretins (and rightfully so!).

An essential component of this is to trust your children. Sure, they will do stupid things, but hey, they are children and still learning. And if they know they can talk to you they may actually come to ask for advice. Don't bbe shocked or appalled, just try to do the best you can. And if you don't know, say so. And if you are uncomfotable with some of your childrens choices, tell them that, but also let them make their choices.

Eventually it boild down to respect. Respect your children. If you do that, then there is no way in hell that you can spy on them, which in my and very likely in your children's eyes is the ultimate sugn of disrespect.

You overlook one thing

[davmoo (63521)]

history suggests that a change like this could tempt many to abandon MySpace for the 'next cool thing'

And history also suggests that parents are quick to file lawsuits, juries are quick to side with the parents, and legislators are quick to pass new restrictive laws. Those trump what kids might do.

Myspace already gets held accountable for a very high degree of parental stupidity. They are merely trying to cover their own asses.

I expect I'll be modded as a troll for this

[mark-t (151149)]

Thus, I have no sympathy for kids who resent being spied on by their parents... it's their parent's property, they have every right to know every detail of how it is used. If they don't like their parents spying on them on the parents' computer then they should just not use their parents' computer... and find alternative methods of keeping in touch with their buddies that the parents won't be able to monitor because it's outside their jurisdiction.

And if parents don't like that kids will inevitably find such methods, tough. They should have thought of that before they had kids in the first place if they can't deal with the fact that their kid might be more ingenious than they are. Ideally, you teach them the whole time they are young how to make smart choices so that by the time they are making their own possibly life-altering decisions they will do the right thing... then spying on your kids would just be superfluous.

Re:

[bky1701 (979071)]

Do you know the concept of a "boss button"? Rather trivial to hide what you are doing... and at the very least you can close a window quite fast without any special setup.

And how would you like it if someone sat down at your computer any time they wanted to see what you are doing? What do you expect your kids to do when they move out? They will rebel against your overbearing spying, thus destroying any reason you may have done it in the first place. Kind of like telling a 3 year old not to stick his hand

Re:

[Vskye (9079)]

Things wont change that much, because most parents don't use that type software. Those that do, don't know how to use it, or don't feel they need to monitor their children. Typical Window's users.

As a parent, and a Linux user at home and Windows user I'd agree to a certain point. My kids want to use/see certain sites that I just don't agree with. My house, I pay the bills for internet, end of frickin story. I don't actually block sites, but I let them know which ones they should avoid.

Another thing, WTF ar