David Paul Morris/Bloomberg
New California measure says Facebook and other sites popular with teenagers must allow its young users to delete posts they later find embarrassing.
Sometimes kids “share” way too much on the Internet without realizing their posts will follow them for life.
So California now has a law that requires Internet service firms including Facebook, Twitter, and Google, to allow minors to erase online writings that could become digital skeletons. The "eraser” mandate, hailed as the first of its kind in the country, takes effect in 2015.
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It was signed Monday by Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown.
Supporters say the measure protects impulsive teenagers from being haunted by saying things online they wished they hadn’t.
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It also helps prevent indiscretions made in the blink of an eye from following you into the job market, its authors said, according to CNET.com.
The law says that Internet companies are required, when asked, to remove information from its web sites, but not its servers.
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Providers including Facebook and Twitter currently offer the opportunity to delete posts.
The measure also bans advertising for items minors are not allow to possess, such as guns and liquor, on the social media pages of underage users.
Critics say the law does not go far enough. It doesn’t apply to information and photos posted by others.
The Center for Democracy and Technology, based in Washington, claims the measure was overly complicated and could unfairly limit teens’ access to the Internet.
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Original source: Top Stories - Google News
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