Now Flickr is Dangerous and Should Be Banned

Michael Stevens at the ALA blog writes:

I want to tell everyone about a bit of drama that's playing out right now, right after DOPA passed the House, and what may be boiling up (and over) in an important moment in time for social software, users, and libraries. The theme here for me is FEAR.

I don't use Flickr (although I know it's great) .  There's a Flickr group for librarians, too, which reports an email going around.

DOPA | deleting online predators act | Myspace | social networking | flickr | moral panic

The text is some variation on

"We are curious as to the policy the [name] Public Library has concerning the access of online social networks. Specifically, we are concerned with the use of a Yahoo photo sharing website called Flickr. It seems that there is an entire subculture within that particular network which poses a grave danger to children. We have recorded thousands of hardcore and even child porn images being displayed to millions of kids for over a year now on Flickr, the whole time pleading with Yahoo to end the filthy flow. Recently, we have turned our attention to the disturbing number of public libraries that utilize this "service" and thus, expose children to this sick venue. Here is a page related to your area's financed public library that resides on that site. That is no place for kids. We wouldn't even put pictures of them there. Thank you. "

So another campaign to vilify a useful service.

I sent a copy of the email with links to the ALA and Librarians on Flickr groups
to Snopes.

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Comments

[Reg]

Alright Liz,
I will now confess my ignorance.
How is DOPA any different from the Child Online Protection Act (I guess that would be COPA)that already passed bacy in 1998?