Interview with Warren A. Wise of MySpace Guardian Toolbar

AC: What exactly is the MySpace Guardian Toolbar?

WW: The MySpace Guardian toolbar is a FREE software program aimed at helping parents protect their children from sexual predators both online and off. Using a unique integration of the Federal database of registered sexual offenders, Google maps and advanced search criteria, the MySpace Guardian provides parents with one of the most advanced and frequently updated forms of sexual predator tracking and identification available today. The MySpace Guardian also provides parents with a monitoring device to help keep them abreast of their children's MySpace activity and the changes being made to their page - including, but not limited to, the addition of potentially dangerous new friends.

AC: How did you come up with the idea for the MySpace Guardian Toolbar?

WW: We developed the MySpace Guardian in response to the alarming statistics published over the last few years regarding the number of children being solicited by sexual predators online (a 2006 study by the Department of Justice cited that 1 in 5 kids had received a sexual approach or solicitation over the Internet in the past year!) The rising trend of predator activity became even more disturbing when we considered the accessibility and lack of identity verification features for emerging social networking sites like MySpace.com (something we would like to point out that MySpace is now fervently working to correct). We felt parents needed a resource that would not only allow them to identify the threats in their neighborhood, but also monitor the potential threats their child could face when using sites like MySpace.com.

AC: Describe how the toolbar works with MySpace technology....

WW: By entering your child's MySpace login information, you will activate a control that will alert you every time a change has been made to your child's page - from emails and comments to the addition of new friends. Parents have the ability to monitor any and all materials being sent to their children through the MySpace interface. In the future, as our relationship with MySpace continues to grow, it is our hope that we will be able to integrate our software even further into the MySpace verification and security features.

AC: How does the registered sex offender component of the toolbar work?

WW: The registered sex offender component works by integrating the US Federal database of registered sexual offenders with Google Maps to provide one of the most sophisticated tracking and identification systems available today. Parents can search for predators in practically any community in the continental United States and view pictures as well as federal profiles on any predator in question. Another unique feature is the wide range of search criteria by which parents can narrow their results. Rather than searching by zip code or city and being deluged by results, parents have the ability to narrow their search using criteria such as height, age and other identifying characteristics. Finally, parents have the ability to contact authorities directly from the toolbar if they believe their child has been approached or solicited by a sexual predator.

AC: How big of a problem are sexual predators on MySpace?

WW: It's fair to say that sexual predators are a growing problem faced by practically every social networking site in existence today. Thankfully, awareness of the issue is also growing. Through the efforts of the MySpace Guardian as well as countless other watchdog groups, software firms and parenting forums, parents are being given the weapons they need to protect their children and the awareness to remove them from harm's way. To learn more about other forums and sites dedicated to keeping our children safe both online and off, or to join in the discussion and learn how you can help, please visit our MySpace profile at http://www.MySpace.com/theMySpaceguardian.

AC: About how many visitors have downloaded your toolbar?

WW: Our current number of downloads stands at approximately 11.5 million nationwide with approximately 400,000 new downloads being generated each and every month. Though this total is not comprised solely of MySpace Guardian downloads (we also currently offer a second online security software, "Bizform Bar," which focuses more on the protection of information online) the MySpace Guardian certainly represents a significant majority.

AC: Will your toolbar work with most browsers?

WW: Our toolbar is currently designed to work with Internet Explorer. As the demand grows amongst the general US user base for platforms like Mozilla or Mac operating systems, we will certainly consider updating the toolbar to include these as well.

AC: Have you had any feedback from law enforcement officials on your toolbar? Any success stories?

WW: The most shocking feedback we've had to date is from the large percentage of users that report a registered sexual offender living in close proximity to their child's school - sometimes as close as a block away. One of the programs we are actively looking to expand is our level of communication with users of the toolbar and the provision of online forums to discuss their successes and trade information with our representatives as well as each other.

AC: Do you have any advice for a parent whose child uses MySpace?

WW: Our advice to parents is that no software, regardless of how advanced, will ever replace communication as the number one best defense against the dangers your child faces online. A great way to encourage an open line of communication is by getting involved. Make a page of your own; create fun activities for you and your child to share on MySpace together. It will not only give you an increased awareness of the MySpace culture, it'll give you a fun experience that you and your child can share together.

AC: Where do you see MySpace in ten years in terms of safety?

WW: Considering the proactive stance MySpace has taken towards increasing the security and safety features for their underage users, we see them continuing as one of the industry leaders in online social networking for years to come. Everyone here at the MySpace Guardian is excited to play whatever role we can in the evolution of that process.

AC: How can someone get more information on or download the MySpace Guardian Toolbar?

WW: For more information on or to download the MySpace Guardian Toolbar, please visit www.MySpaceguardian.com. You can also find our software on Windows Marketplace, Download.com and various child advocacy sites. We'd also like to invite you again to join in the discussion by visiting our MySpace profile at http://www.MySpace.com/theMySpaceguardian. Feel free to leave us a comment - we'd love to hear what you think!