LIVE Tackles Access by Minors to Upcoming Social Networking Widgets

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In a post on his blog Xbox Live Director of Programming Larry "Major Nelson" Hyrb explained how Microsoft plans to handle access to Twitter, Facebook, and Last.FM through the widgets due to arrive in the next update by Live accounts registered to a minor. As has been the case in the currently ongoing preview, when the update arrives Live accounts for those age 13 to 17 will not be able to use the new tools. Microsoft made this decision to, as Hyrb put it, "offer an age-appropriate environment for everyone."

The complete lockout is only a temporary solution. Hyrb goes on to say, "the development team is working on an update that gives parents the choice of which social applications their children can access." These access controls will likely be incorporated into the existing Family Settings that allow parents to control such things as who their child can communicate with, who can see their profile, and similar settings. Hyrb said that the team expects to have this patch ready several weeks after the update hits and promised an exact date as it gets closer.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    November 6, 2009 5:16 PM

    People gonna be pissed.

    • reply
      November 6, 2009 5:24 PM

      Yeah, Children...

    • reply
      November 6, 2009 5:58 PM

      mace...I know, right?

    • reply
      November 7, 2009 6:52 PM

      Some of the kids I hear playing FPS have additudes and mouths on them. Odbvously their parents dont care or know what there doing.

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