MySpace Partners with WiredSafety.org to Educate Users and Implement Best Practices Online

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--June 8, 2005--MySpace.com, today's leading social-networking and lifestyle portal, has teamed-up with WiredSafety.org, the world's largest online safety and help group, in an effort to create a safer online environment. Together, the two companies are developing and implementing a comprehensive series of guidelines and solutions for addressing online safety and privacy issues on MySpace and on the Internet. These will include a guide for parents about how they can help their children stay safer online with supervision and parental controls.

"We take the safety and well-being of our users very seriously," said Chris DeWolfe, chief executive officer, MySpace.com. "There will always be challenges posed by the anonymous nature of the Internet, but we are committed to working proactively to find solutions to these problems and to educate all of our users on how to have safe and enriching online experiences."

As the sixth ranked web domain in terms of page views(a) and one of the fastest growing websites on the Internet, MySpace engages a wide range of users that communicate through the website on a daily basis. Given its size, scope and popularity, the website consequently confronts many of the safety and privacy issues that the Internet poses for young people. WiredSafety's Parry Aftab approached MySpace.com after receiving questions from parents. The two then began planning a comprehensive program to ensure that MySpace users have safe and meaningful experiences online.

Following WiredSafety.org's initial recommendations, MySpace has already implemented a series of best practices and protection policies including algorithms, specially designed software and a full-time team of individuals consistently monitoring the site for terms of service violations and those believed to be underage. MySpace has a dedicated, quick-response customer support team that provides members and parents with an easy mechanism for user feedback, reporting and response. WiredSafety.org is working on a tutorial for parents to help them understand how to navigate MySpace.com and what help resources are available to them at the site.

"The Internet is a terrific technology offering a limitless number of experiences to users. Given the Web's unpredictable nature, companies can either hide from the potential risks or confront them head-on," said Parry Aftab, Esq., executive director, Wiredsafety.org. "I have been impressed by MySpace.com's commitment to find ways of improving the safety and security of its members. Due to the company's positive and proactive approach to Internet safety, we are looking forward to working together to create a safer Internet experience with better informed users and parents."

The partnership between MySpace and WiredSafety seeks to educate Internet users of all ages as well as parents, on the tools and techniques available for online protection. A critical first step in the process is to emphasize the importance that parents speak directly with their children about internet safety issues. MySpace will also provide information to WiredSafety to assist in their addressing similar issues with other web-based services.

About MySpace.com

MySpace.com is the premier lifestyle portal for networking online. By integrating web profiles, blogs, instant messaging, e-mail, music downloads, photo galleries, classified listings, events, groups, chatrooms, and user forums, MySpace has created a connected community where users put their lives online. As the number sixth ranked web domain in terms of page views,(a) MySpace.com is the most widely-used and highly regarded site of its kind. MySpace.com is committed to providing the highest quality user experience and will continue to innovate with new features that allow its users to express their creativity and share their lives, both online and off, with their friends.

About WiredSafety.org

WiredSafety is a 501(c)(3) organization and the largest online safety, education and help group in the world. It acts as cyber-neighborhood watch and operates worldwide. WiredSafety is run entirely by unpaid volunteers and was founded and is run by Parry Aftab (also an unpaid volunteer). Dr. Aftab is a mom, international cyberspace privacy and security lawyer and children's advocate. She has written the leading books for parents on Internet safety, and runs workshops for families, communities and schools on safe and responsible technology use. WiredSafety also operates WiredKids.org, Teenangels.org, Stopcyberbullying.org and InternetSuperheroes.org. Its specially-trained volunteers work with law enforcement around the clock to stop Internet child sexual exploitation and assist victims of cyber-harassment and cyberbullying.

(a) Among the top 2000 domains. comScore Media Metrix, April 2005.