New Law: Parent's Permission Required For Myspace/Facebook Account

CHICAGO (WBBM) -- Under a new proposal in Springfield, kids would have to have a parent's permission to create a profile on popular social networking sites like MySpace and Facebook.

WBBM's Regine Schlesinger reports that's one provision of a package aimed at making those websites safer for children.

Representative Tom Cross, the Illinois House republican leader, says the bipartisan effort builds on laws passed last year. The new provisions would place a greater burden on the sites' operators, requiring them to verify the age of a minor and get written permission from a parent before a minor can create a profile.

The sponsors also want parents to be able to access their child's profile.

It would make it a felony for a registered sex offender to access the profile of a minor and perhaps even to go on those websites at all. Representative Cross acknowledges the difficulty of regulating the internet but says, we have to take a shot at better protecting children.

He says several other states are looking into similar measures. He thinks the package has a good chance of passing in the Illinois general assembly.

Print Page

Email This Page

Featured Audio

The Bears Report: Tom Thayer
WBBM Game Day Analyst Tom Thayer, with our Josh Liss, sizes up Sunday's matchup vs. the Arizona Cardinals.

Gardening Tips For Nov. 7, 2009
Tips on maintaining your garden, plants and flowers year-round.

President Obama's Weekly Address
President Obama honors the heroism of those at Fort Hood by paying tribute to those who were killed, those who were wounded and those who extended a helping hand.

Republican Response to Weekly Address
In the Weekly Republican Address, Governor Haley Barbour (R-MS) reflects on this week's elections in New Jersey and Virginia, and discusses why he thinks independents showed overwhelming support for the Republican Party.

Oprah Winfrey moving her show from Chicago?
Veteran Entertainment Journalist and LA Weekly Hollywood, Nikki Finke joins Kris and Sherman during the WBBM Noon Business Hour to discuss the possibility of Oprah Winfrey moving her show from Chicago to Los Angles.