Little Red Riding Hood - The Big Bad Wolfs hunting Ground (Facebook/My Space/Yearbook/You Tube in Incognito)

Both my sons use Facebook to interact with their friends across the world. More and more scary stories are emerging from the biggest social network sites. There is no age limit, no guarantee that who you meet online is in fact who they say they are.

How do we regulate social networks that spans the globe? A thought came to me the other day and you can let me know your thoughts on this but, just like how we have to apply for a job couldn't we ask them to verify who they are by requesting references from their boss at work and personal character references from family members? I would be more than happy to deliver this information to anyone I intend to set up a business or personal online relationship with. How about you? Do you consider this to be an invasion of privacy? Does this appear cumbersome and a lot of work to find out about someone? If you knew, it was matter of life or death wouldn't you see the sense in identification? If you are a decent, honest person you would have nothing to hide right?

Another thought came across my mind: The Social Networks could enrol Internet Marshals who could be volunteers or paid workers who would review and scan the sites for inappropriate content, contacts and criminals. A commission or reward, some incentive could be paid to subscribers/members who report suspicious activity.

You have "Web of Trust" that allows users to pass on their opinion/review of a website they are interested in visiting. The users are happily doing this for free. Why can't this be done on a Social Site? Whereby, a person is scored by the information they have provided to the Social Network when they signed up.

What I also don't understand is why people don't report or confirm with someone that they are meeting someone online. Does this fall into the privacy zone? Or don't tell anybody zone? This couldn't be when you are hanging out your laundry to dry anyway. Everyone can see your business. Facebook has been known NOT to delete your content and profile. Watch You Tube video make a mockery of Facebook features. Facebook is not discreet.

I have however, found a number of You Tube videos very interesting, educational, informative and I enjoy the music. Talented individuals and musicians can promote themselves and perhaps get signed up for greater things. But, this is also a risk how would you know that who you are communicating with is indeed who they say they are?

You Tube does not monitor videos being downloaded. You Tube displays the most inappropriate content even when you are not looking for it. They also have money so why can't they employ the necessary people to scan and eliminate content that is not fit for physical viewing, especially for children. How about a Regulation be passed by Government that only parents or guardians can sign up children? They pay a dollar off their credit card to confirm their name and address. All Social Network Sites should have no problem with this if they want to maintain their reputation and on line status. But, is there something more sinister going on? If we lose this form of communication that would mean we would have to revert back to the media/newspapers and the majority of the time you cannot rely on them, they do not always tell the truth.

The serious side to this is that we are not protecting ourselves period. Terrorism is on the increase. Hundreds of videos on criminals committing terrible acts and how to make home made bombs. We are allowing these Acts of Crime. The Authors and Creators are given permission to manage their own content. Just like companies are audited shouldn't websites be audited for internal controls and quality assurance thus creating thousands of jobs for unemployed people?

Another idea: They could introduce offender lists in the area or country and make this readily available to members/subscribers on their profile. It could be just a Search Engine attachment displaying names and aliases to view and report, if necessary.

Yearbook has a similar problem you can look at anyone's profile, send inappropriate content and hold conversations in private. They tell you not to hand out personal details and block you from sending emails via the profile but, the chat feature does not have any protection. Apparently high school kids have developed this site but they look like adults to me. The women are as just as bad as the men. They send disgusting pictures to young boys. All in the name of fun. The men and women pretend to be something they are not. They post pictures of other people and imitate them. Yearbook is the biggest scam in raising money for charity. There is no proof that they have donated any money whatsoever. They are promoting IMVU an adult sex site. One person hit it right on the nail "Very Innapropriate, for $5.00, you can buy an 18 and older patch and buy nude items. They do not check your birth date when you buy this pass either." We are being brainwashed into believing we can meet our soul mate, find sincere friendships and be safe because they are high school kids after all.

Isn't it bad enough that someone else may have your name, your identity, have a copy of your passport, credit card details or hack your bank account. Criminals will stop at nothing and do anything to get what they want. We need to stop winging about our Rights and Liberty on the sites described above because I would like to ask YOU where is your Rights or Liberty when you are kidnapped, beaten to death, sexually assaulted or terrorized. There are over 90,000 predators on My Space. There is compelling proof that social networking sites remain rife with sexual predators. "A preliminary number of sex offenders found on Facebook was "substantial," but the company has yet to respond to a recent subpoena. Please wake up and smell the coffee as there is no such thing as "it can never happen to me".

The Big Bad Wolfs of today have planted their seeds and influenced your thoughts into ignorance and denial.