MySpace Launches Age Restrictions on Applications

Yesterday, MySpace informed developers about new age restriction settings for applications. The tools are optional for some applications but will be required for others. Dating applications as well as chat and video chat applications must require that users now be 18. Drinking applications must now require that users be 21. Any failure to comply with these new terms could result in the suspension of applications. Does this mean we will start seeing a wave of applications start getting shut down on MySpace just like they have been on Facebook?

Possibly. One of the strange rules implies that MySpace apparently thinks that sending virtual alcoholic beverages is the same as consuming them. While I’m not sure about the legal aspect of this, they appear to be the first platform to implement such restrictions. As far as I know, Facebook currently has no age restrictions for applications.

As new applications emerge on the platform, it makes a lot of sense to implement some age restrictions. Then again, the ages of users are not verified on MySpace. One of the post popular ages on the site is 69 and my guess is that the average MySpace user is not really 69. As the social platforms emerge, we will begin to see many new policies to protect users.

While the new policies may restrict developers in some ways, ultimately it is the users who are most important. MySpace hasn’t said when applications must comply by leading me to believe that the changes are effective immediately.