MySpace Launches New TV and Web Initiative To Promote Online Safety

After our article yesterday about whether there is any privacy online, MySpace has stepped up and created a new PSA advertisement along with a community Web site to promote online safety. MySpace notes that the ad, "Don’t Stop the Dialogue", is geared at encouraging parents to talk with teens about their Internet use and help them to make smart decisions to be safe online.

MySpace has also relaunched their safety Web site today. The site includes content for parents on how to speak with their children and for kids on how to protect themselves. In addition, the company has partnered with iKeepSafe to develop a tutorial covering topics including: social networking 101, how to set-up a MySpace profile, searching and blogging.

Should there be a community group for online safety as there is for DataPortability? Where multiple companies and interested parties can come together and create policies and best practices that we can look to across multiple entities? I know there are acts including COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) but more needs to be done in this area. Let’s not forget that privacy, safety and security all go together.