Assessment status:
Friendster has resulted in an abstain from the AWL assessment.
Website link: www.friendster.com
Assessor: Yehia Nada
Closed on 05/04/2008
Scheduled for re-assessment.
Friendster has resulted in an abstain from the AWL assessment.
Website link: www.friendster.com
Assessor: Yehia Nada
Closed on 05/04/2008
Scheduled for re-assessment.
Friendster
Once the top social networking service before MySpace takes over, Friendster is based on the Circle of Friends and Web of Friends techniques for networking individuals in virtual communities and demonstrates the small world phenomenon. It currently has over 50 million users.
PASS
CRITERIA
Abuse, bans, sanctions
The site's rules must, at a minimum ban and have sanctions for the following: Offensive language (including discrimination, and bullying of users), promotion/endorsement of illegal activity, adult material, advertising/linking to adult/offensive sites.
REPORT
"You understand and agree that we may review and delete any Content that you include in your profile or otherwise Post on any area of the Website (which may include deleting your entire profile) that we, in our sole judgment, believe (1) violates this Agreement, (2) might be offensive or illegal or (3) might violate the rights of, harm or threaten the safety of any other Member."
Abuse, bans, sanctions
The site's rules must, at a minimum ban and have sanctions for the following: Offensive language (including discrimination, and bullying of users), promotion/endorsement of illegal activity, adult material, advertising/linking to adult/offensive sites.
REPORT
"You understand and agree that we may review and delete any Content that you include in your profile or otherwise Post on any area of the Website (which may include deleting your entire profile) that we, in our sole judgment, believe (1) violates this Agreement, (2) might be offensive or illegal or (3) might violate the rights of, harm or threaten the safety of any other Member."
CRITERIA
Code of conduct
Site staff must have a code of conduct in dealing with users and what powers they may use and when. Site staff must also be monitored to be following the rules and not misusing powers or their position.
REPORT
Code of conduct
Site staff must have a code of conduct in dealing with users and what powers they may use and when. Site staff must also be monitored to be following the rules and not misusing powers or their position.
REPORT
CRITERIA
Comply with laws
The site must comply with all relevant privacy laws depending on the country they are based in, e.g. The Data Protection Act.
REPORT
Comply with laws
The site must comply with all relevant privacy laws depending on the country they are based in, e.g. The Data Protection Act.
REPORT
CRITERIA
Hide personal information
If the site allows people to make 'profiles' with personal information on them, the option to either hide the information from all but the person's friends must be on all information which could be used to identify a child (phone number, address, full name, school attended, email address.
REPORT
Friendster allows its users to make their profile private and only shown to certain friends. To make your profile private, please go to your account settings. You can select who you want to make your full profile open to. You can make your profile accessible to friends, friends and 2nd degree friends or anyone. If someone tries to access your page outside of the selection you chose, they will see your limited (public) profile which contains your name, location, and primary picture."
Hide personal information
If the site allows people to make 'profiles' with personal information on them, the option to either hide the information from all but the person's friends must be on all information which could be used to identify a child (phone number, address, full name, school attended, email address.
REPORT
Friendster allows its users to make their profile private and only shown to certain friends. To make your profile private, please go to your account settings. You can select who you want to make your full profile open to. You can make your profile accessible to friends, friends and 2nd degree friends or anyone. If someone tries to access your page outside of the selection you chose, they will see your limited (public) profile which contains your name, location, and primary picture."
CRITERIA
Identifiable moderators/staff
Official site staff, moderators and helpers are clearly identifiable to users.
REPORT
The exec staff are listed in the About Friendster page.
Identifiable moderators/staff
Official site staff, moderators and helpers are clearly identifiable to users.
REPORT
The exec staff are listed in the About Friendster page.
CRITERIA
Information on issues relating to children
Site staff show awareness of issues that may arise from children using the site including how to deal with bullying, abuse and paedophiles.
REPORT
Only indication to prohibited contents for those who are under 18 years old. "Content that includes material that exploits people under the age of 18 in a sexual or violent manner or is intended to solicit personal information from anyone under 18;"
Information on issues relating to children
Site staff show awareness of issues that may arise from children using the site including how to deal with bullying, abuse and paedophiles.
REPORT
Only indication to prohibited contents for those who are under 18 years old. "Content that includes material that exploits people under the age of 18 in a sexual or violent manner or is intended to solicit personal information from anyone under 18;"
CRITERIA
Moderation, approval, filters
If the site has forums or chat rooms they must have a system of moderation which is reasonably effective in dealing with issues. Moderation may include: Live moderators, requiring moderator approval of posts, or word filters, other systems of moderation will be judged in its effectiveness before being approved.
REPORT
There are Discussion Boards for Friendster, however, it is very hard to know who are the moderators or to read the forum rules.
Moderation, approval, filters
If the site has forums or chat rooms they must have a system of moderation which is reasonably effective in dealing with issues. Moderation may include: Live moderators, requiring moderator approval of posts, or word filters, other systems of moderation will be judged in its effectiveness before being approved.
REPORT
There are Discussion Boards for Friendster, however, it is very hard to know who are the moderators or to read the forum rules.
CRITERIA
No adware, spyware, malware
The site must not be harmful and must not contain viruses, spyware, adware or malware.
REPORT
No adware, spyware, or malware noticed, the website is rather clean.
No adware, spyware, malware
The site must not be harmful and must not contain viruses, spyware, adware or malware.
REPORT
No adware, spyware, or malware noticed, the website is rather clean.
CRITERIA
No encouraging real life meeting
The site must not encourage children to meet in real life, regardless of circumstances.
REPORT
There's no specific indication/awareness of such matter.
No encouraging real life meeting
The site must not encourage children to meet in real life, regardless of circumstances.
REPORT
There's no specific indication/awareness of such matter.
CRITERIA
No harmful links/bad affiliates
The site must not have links, affiliations or activities to any sites which break the rules listed above. The site may also not be a 'sub-group' to any site that breaks the above rules.
REPORT
No harmful links or bad affiliation to any websites that may break the AWL assessment.
No harmful links/bad affiliates
The site must not have links, affiliations or activities to any sites which break the rules listed above. The site may also not be a 'sub-group' to any site that breaks the above rules.
REPORT
No harmful links or bad affiliation to any websites that may break the AWL assessment.
CRITERIA
No third party sales
The site does not sell, or give away members' information to external sites or companies without a CLEAR and easy to understand 'opt-in' system.
REPORT
Friendster does not sell, rent, share, trade or give away any of your personal information unless required by law or for the protection of your Membership.
No third party sales
The site does not sell, or give away members' information to external sites or companies without a CLEAR and easy to understand 'opt-in' system.
REPORT
Friendster does not sell, rent, share, trade or give away any of your personal information unless required by law or for the protection of your Membership.
CRITERIA
Privacy Policy, Terms of Use
The site rules, privacy policy and terms of use must be reasonably easy to find.
REPORT
Both Privacy Policy, Terms of Services, and Partners TOS are easily located at the bottom navigation of the website.
Privacy Policy, Terms of Use
The site rules, privacy policy and terms of use must be reasonably easy to find.
REPORT
Both Privacy Policy, Terms of Services, and Partners TOS are easily located at the bottom navigation of the website.
CRITERIA
Privacy protection
The site takes reasonable steps to protect the privacy of its users, and ensures that private information is not leaked or stolen.
REPORT
The Friendster account of every Member is password-protected. Friendster takes every precaution to protect the information of the Members, as well as information collected from other users of the Friendster website. They use industry standard measures to protect all information that is stored on their servers and within their database. They limit the access to this information to those employees who need access to perform their job function such as their customer service personnel.
Privacy protection
The site takes reasonable steps to protect the privacy of its users, and ensures that private information is not leaked or stolen.
REPORT
The Friendster account of every Member is password-protected. Friendster takes every precaution to protect the information of the Members, as well as information collected from other users of the Friendster website. They use industry standard measures to protect all information that is stored on their servers and within their database. They limit the access to this information to those employees who need access to perform their job function such as their customer service personnel.
CRITERIA
Report complaints/abuse system
There must be an easy to use complaint/abuse report system where users can report issues of rule breaking or abuse.
REPORT
Although there's a contact us page and a help request email, there are no indication of whatsoever nature inregards to abuse or complaint cases. There's also a lack of an automated form to contact the admins, which makes the task a little more difficult for users.
Report complaints/abuse system
There must be an easy to use complaint/abuse report system where users can report issues of rule breaking or abuse.
REPORT
Although there's a contact us page and a help request email, there are no indication of whatsoever nature inregards to abuse or complaint cases. There's also a lack of an automated form to contact the admins, which makes the task a little more difficult for users.
CRITERIA
Rules, zero tolerance
The site's staff must deal with rule breaking in an effective way and have a zero tolerance policy on child abuse, bullying and cybersex.
REPORT
Prohibited Content includes but is not limited to Content that harasses or advocates harassment of another person; includes material that exploits people under the age of 18 in a sexual or violent manner or is intended to solicit personal information from anyone under 18; may result, in their sole discretion, in termination of your membership. In addition, they reserve the right to investigate and take appropriate legal action, in their sole discretion, against anyone who violates this provision, including, without limitation, removing the offending communication from the Website and reporting such violator to the appropriate legal authorities.
Rules, zero tolerance
The site's staff must deal with rule breaking in an effective way and have a zero tolerance policy on child abuse, bullying and cybersex.
REPORT
Prohibited Content includes but is not limited to Content that harasses or advocates harassment of another person; includes material that exploits people under the age of 18 in a sexual or violent manner or is intended to solicit personal information from anyone under 18; may result, in their sole discretion, in termination of your membership. In addition, they reserve the right to investigate and take appropriate legal action, in their sole discretion, against anyone who violates this provision, including, without limitation, removing the offending communication from the Website and reporting such violator to the appropriate legal authorities.
CRITERIA
Contact forms
The site has a way for parents to contact staff with their concerns, which are dealt with effectively.
REPORT
Contact forms
The site has a way for parents to contact staff with their concerns, which are dealt with effectively.
REPORT
CRITERIA
Helpdesk/in-house help system
The site provides an in-house help system, examples of this include: a 'helpdesk' chat room, a help and support forum, a knowledge base, and dedicated email addresses for support.
REPORT
Helpdesk/in-house help system
The site provides an in-house help system, examples of this include: a 'helpdesk' chat room, a help and support forum, a knowledge base, and dedicated email addresses for support.
REPORT
CRITERIA
Ignore/block functionality
The option to ignore/block a person in chat rooms, profiles, forums etc. should be available.
REPORT
Ignore/block functionality
The option to ignore/block a person in chat rooms, profiles, forums etc. should be available.
REPORT
CRITERIA
Probationary training of new staff
New site staff/moderators have a probationary/training period where they are monitored more closely and have powers restricted before becoming full staff members/moderators.
REPORT
Probationary training of new staff
New site staff/moderators have a probationary/training period where they are monitored more closely and have powers restricted before becoming full staff members/moderators.
REPORT
CRITERIA
Protection from predators
There is a clear policy on dealing with predatory behaviour which includes dealing with the offender, protecting users and notifying the necessary authorities.
REPORT
Protection from predators
There is a clear policy on dealing with predatory behaviour which includes dealing with the offender, protecting users and notifying the necessary authorities.
REPORT
CRITERIA
Safety guidelines
The site provides suitable advice on safe use and how to report trouble, or links to the Privacy Commission's safety guides (with the link in a clear and easy to find place)
REPORT
Safety guidelines
The site provides suitable advice on safe use and how to report trouble, or links to the Privacy Commission's safety guides (with the link in a clear and easy to find place)
REPORT
CRITERIA
Staff awareness
The site has one or more members of staff who are fully aware of child issues online (having a staff member pass the special course coming soon automatically qualify for this)
REPORT
Staff awareness
The site has one or more members of staff who are fully aware of child issues online (having a staff member pass the special course coming soon automatically qualify for this)
REPORT
