MySpace to Tighten Rules for Teens' Safety

MySpace.com is planning new restrictions on how adults may contact its younger users in response to growing concerns about the safety of teenagers who frequent the popular social networking site.

The site already prohibits children ages 13 and under from setting up accounts and displays only partial profiles for those registered as 14 or 15 years old unless the person viewing the profile is already on the teen's list of friends.

Under the changes, expected to be announced today and taking effect next week, MySpace users who are 18 or older could no longer request to be on a 14- or 15-year-old's list unless they already know either the youth's e-mail address or full name.