I am doing on social networking site, where main public are going to be teenagers, also under 15. Is there any potential problem from side of pedofils and other sexual abuses? How can prevent that?
What? Well I would at least make a disclaimer that says that you should not meet with anyone you meet online.
You need to have a legally watertight terms and conditions so that you can give anyone the boot, at anytime. Every record needs to be IP stamped so you can check for multiple accounts and kill every identity of known baddies. Build strong admin tools for identifying and handling baddies Look at how other sites have tackled the problem. And check proof read all your content so that it looks professional. If the baddies think it's kids running the show they'll try to intimidate you.
Yeah, and I heard that News Corp... I think it was them... is planning on launching a 'MySpace" for kids. 17 and under, and a bunch of parent stuff is required to join.
So if I understood you right I need to write in term and conditions that kids under 15 require parents to join?
you would also need to check that the ip of the baddies that you ban or the ip that you ban isnt a proxy, otherwise banning the ip will not stop the baddie from re-joining.
but to satisfy law I need only to write that user need to be older than 15 or they need permission from parents, right?
For this you need to talk to a real lawyer who specialises in this kind of thing. I expect you to think that's overkill, but when the feds come calling because someone finds a way to exploit one of your members and something nasty is planned or actually happens you'll be pleased you did. You, personally, may have some protection automatically because you are a minor. However your parents may be considered to be your legal guardians and they may have to take responsibility. How would it feel if the legal fees associated with your venture caused your parents to lose their home and savings? Put in perspective a couple of hundred quid on a lawyer now doesn't seem so crazy.
but if I made a disclaimer that says that every body under 13 can not join, only parents can make them profile and only parents can add them photo. Would be that ok?
The correct spelling are :- pedofils should be spelt as pedophiles sexsual should be spelt as sexual In any case, a disclaimer should be sufficient in most cases as it would protect you. That is what MySpace did but there are however no way of preventing people from circumventing the rules. Like you see time and time again, people complaining about being locked out and so on because of some violation of some terms and conditions they agreed to by signing up but ignore reading them.
Getting legal letters is scary. Sometimes that's all they aim to do. However if there is any chance of misbehaviour on your site, either through inappropriate contact with minors or misrepresentation then people will try things on. If you already have an established relationship with a legal team then you are better placed when it happens. Don't mess about with this, take it seriously.
I love getting legal letters. Most of the time because I know I am safe and have done nothing wrong. Therefor when they come I get to throw it back in their face in a phone call or email. However if you do do something wrong (which I haven't YET) I am sure the story is quite different. So like he said, take it really seriously.