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"Computer giant Microsoft is to close the majority of its internet chatrooms to stop paedophiles praying on children.
It will axe all its chatrooms run by its MSN websites in 34 countries in an attempt to prevent paedophiles using the web to groom victims.
Other chatrooms accessible using MSN will be more tightly monitored or operate on a subsciption-only basis.
It comes after a recent survey of 9 to 16-year-olds that 20% are regular users of internet chatrooms, 25% have requested a meeting with someone they have met in a chatroom and 10% admit they have actually gone on to meet up with a stranger.
The company also hopes the move will combat spam emails.
Companies are known to collect email addresses from those visiting chatrooms which they use to send what are often x-rated adverts.
Matt Whittingham, head of customer satisfaction at MSN UK, said: "Most people treat this type of service with respect but we have found that chatrooms - and not only ours - are increasingly being used for inappropriate communications.
"Many of those using chatrooms are young and interested in sex and going out.
"Unfortunately we know paedophiles have exploited this and the freedom they get from chatrooms to target children.
"We have had enough of our services being used in this way which is why we have decided to close those which are free and not monitored."
MSN will shut its free, unmoderated Chat services around the globe on October 14.
A service will continue for free in New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, Canada and Japan but the contents of the chatrooms will be monitored.
The US will run a subscription-only service which requires users to disclose their credit card details."
Credit :: Sky News
I've used MSN Chat before, don't really see why it has to go. If parents don't want to monitor their child's Internet usage, it's up to them. And if the children talk to paedophiles and arrange to meet up; again, they shouldn't be allowed online and their parents should know that. But, if it clamps down on the whole paedophilia (is that a word?) stuff then good, I hope it is successful. But I can't see it working. MSN Chat isn't as personal as MSN Messenger, basically, lots of people with random usernames are sitting behind their monitors talking to people. It's harder to tell the persons age, sex and most importantly of all, their location. Unless of course, they tell the person they are talking to. Hmmm...
Discuss...
It will axe all its chatrooms run by its MSN websites in 34 countries in an attempt to prevent paedophiles using the web to groom victims.
Other chatrooms accessible using MSN will be more tightly monitored or operate on a subsciption-only basis.
It comes after a recent survey of 9 to 16-year-olds that 20% are regular users of internet chatrooms, 25% have requested a meeting with someone they have met in a chatroom and 10% admit they have actually gone on to meet up with a stranger.
The company also hopes the move will combat spam emails.
Companies are known to collect email addresses from those visiting chatrooms which they use to send what are often x-rated adverts.
Matt Whittingham, head of customer satisfaction at MSN UK, said: "Most people treat this type of service with respect but we have found that chatrooms - and not only ours - are increasingly being used for inappropriate communications.
"Many of those using chatrooms are young and interested in sex and going out.
"Unfortunately we know paedophiles have exploited this and the freedom they get from chatrooms to target children.
"We have had enough of our services being used in this way which is why we have decided to close those which are free and not monitored."
MSN will shut its free, unmoderated Chat services around the globe on October 14.
A service will continue for free in New Zealand, Australia, Brazil, Canada and Japan but the contents of the chatrooms will be monitored.
The US will run a subscription-only service which requires users to disclose their credit card details."
Credit :: Sky News
I've used MSN Chat before, don't really see why it has to go. If parents don't want to monitor their child's Internet usage, it's up to them. And if the children talk to paedophiles and arrange to meet up; again, they shouldn't be allowed online and their parents should know that. But, if it clamps down on the whole paedophilia (is that a word?) stuff then good, I hope it is successful. But I can't see it working. MSN Chat isn't as personal as MSN Messenger, basically, lots of people with random usernames are sitting behind their monitors talking to people. It's harder to tell the persons age, sex and most importantly of all, their location. Unless of course, they tell the person they are talking to. Hmmm...
Discuss...
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It's not true about the messenger part though, if you check and read proerly two BBC.co.uk articles about it then you will find that MSN messenger will not be closed due to it's own protectiveness. if you've had to block someone on their before it is the only reason why it's going to stay up.
Heck even SR had a blocking system a two years ago but they got rid of it a few weeks after I joined in May 2001.
But the only part of MSN that is going is the chat forums they run on the main site itself.
Heck even SR had a blocking system a two years ago but they got rid of it a few weeks after I joined in May 2001.
But the only part of MSN that is going is the chat forums they run on the main site itself.
*Does the Funky Gibbon*
Hurrah!
Go away stinky MSN.
You are 38% of all that is bad in the world.
Another 42% is Messenger, though. Which will still be going.
Of course they would shut Messenger down - it's all part of Microsoft's brain-washing campaign.
And you've all been sucked in.
(The other 20% of things that are bad in the world consists mainly of falling off walls and leaky biros)
Hurrah!
Go away stinky MSN.
You are 38% of all that is bad in the world.
Another 42% is Messenger, though. Which will still be going.
Of course they would shut Messenger down - it's all part of Microsoft's brain-washing campaign.
And you've all been sucked in.
(The other 20% of things that are bad in the world consists mainly of falling off walls and leaky biros)
Azul wrote:
> EL ® ö B ì Ñ wrote:
> Good news for SR then, they might get more SR forum users.
>
> Lets bloody well hope not. We've got enough gibbering bufoons as it
> is.
Is that aimed towards me then?
It's a forum, i dont care how many people are here.
> EL ® ö B ì Ñ wrote:
> Good news for SR then, they might get more SR forum users.
>
> Lets bloody well hope not. We've got enough gibbering bufoons as it
> is.
Is that aimed towards me then?
It's a forum, i dont care how many people are here.
EL ® ö B ì Ñ wrote:
> Good news for SR then, they might get more SR forum users.
Lets bloody well hope not. We've got enough gibbering bufoons as it is.
> Good news for SR then, they might get more SR forum users.
Lets bloody well hope not. We've got enough gibbering bufoons as it is.
Good news for SR then, they might get more SR forum users.
All I used MSN Chat for was to annoy people. Oh well... :D
How dare paedophiles pray?! They go against God's laws!
*groan*
I try, I really do.
*groan*
I try, I really do.
I agree. I must have spent weeks of my life on here.
But hey if a few decent users filter through to here, which COULD happen, then that would be a good thing.
But hey if a few decent users filter through to here, which COULD happen, then that would be a good thing.
Bah, chat rooms are a waste of time.
Snipe® wrote:
> Bye the home of the A/S/L..
Wouldn't that be Yahoo chat?
Never used msn chat personally. Used to go on Yahoo n had some great arguments but now its all deteriorated into single 20-40 something nerds trying to "cyb0r" with anything that moves. I prefer IRC. *wonders why he has 132 contacts on msn and speaks to mabey 10 different people per month*
> Bye the home of the A/S/L..
Wouldn't that be Yahoo chat?
Never used msn chat personally. Used to go on Yahoo n had some great arguments but now its all deteriorated into single 20-40 something nerds trying to "cyb0r" with anything that moves. I prefer IRC. *wonders why he has 132 contacts on msn and speaks to mabey 10 different people per month*
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