Warnings over 'abuse' of social websites

[T_i_B]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/5344722.stm

Social networking sites such as Bebo and MySpace must do more to police what users do, warns Computing Which?

A study of the sites by the consumer watchdog unearthed pornographic images, evidence of bullying and inappropriate adverts. It also proved easy to pose as a child as the sites did no age or ID checks.

"Teenage users need to be aware that there is no way of knowing who is behind the face of a 'friend'," said Jessica Ross, Computing Which? editor.

The study found a "sinister" side to the social sites and revealed that the ease with which accounts can be created left open many avenues for abuse. One researcher was able to pose as a 14-year-old on MySpace as the site did not require identification or carry out an age check. In one incident of cyber-bullying one teenage boy organised a vote on his page on whether a girl had Aids.