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[PSUs]

Tuesday 4th April 2006

MySpace prunes objectionable profiles 10:39AM, Tuesday 4th April 2006

The online meeting place Myspace has been ejecting tens of thousands of profiles from its service. According to reports, it has removed some 200,000 'objectionable' profiles from its service on grounds ranging from racist comments to being too risqué.

The MySpace social networking service, which claims millions of regular users, was acquired by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp last year. News Corp, of course also owns a number of newspapers in Britain including the tabloid Sun and News of the World. However, it is now cracking down on those who do not abide by the rules of online behaviour set by News Corp.

Under the safety tips on the site, Myspace states 'Harassment, hate speech and



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inappropriate content should be reported. If you feel someone's behaviour is inappropriate, react. Talk with a trusted adult, or report it to MySpace or the authorities.' It also warns that people should 'think twice before posting a photo or info you wouldn't want your parents or boss to see,' and that 'If you lie about your age, MySpace will delete your profile'. MySpace users should be at least 14 years old.

Unsavoury content is not confined to MySpace. Ross Levinsohn, the chief of News Corp's Internet division told a conference that it was a problem that was afflicting the whole of the Internet.

News Corp, which also owns the conservative Fox News in the US, is particularly concerned by a possible backlash from parents and teachers who complain about objectionable content visible to the millions of American teenagers who use the service.

In the UK, the Myspace service has become a hit among British teenagers and is partly credited with breaking a number of new music acts including the Arctic Monkeys.

Steve Malone

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