Nude Kiddy Pictures Offered for Airtime on Mxit
29 Jun 2009
29 Jun 2009
Popular chat site Mxit’s recently launched classified advertising service is attracting explicit adverts, some from children who offer nude pictures of themselves, in exchange for cellphone airtime.
Despite a users’ agreement to not post adverts of a sexual, racial or political nature, advertisers have not been complying.
One advert posted by a girl claiming to be 17 years old asks users to call her to make arrangements for airtime to be transferred to her in exchange for “nudy pics of me and sexy chat”.
Recognising that its classified service was being abused, Mxit has stepped up efforts to control the posted content.
“Our intention was to offer Mxit Xchange as a free service, but due to an increase in abusive posts received in the first week of launch, we took the decision to levy a R1 charge per post,” Mxit International marketing manager Juan du Toit said.
A moderator has been appointed to remove adverts that breach Mxit’s terms and conditions, he said.
“If deemed to be transgressing the terms and conditions, the user’s post will be removed and they will be banned for 30 days. Currently banning is immediate,” Du Toit said.
KwaZulu-Natal Childline director Linda Naidoo told The Times the organisation knew of numerous cases of children “sending naked photos of themselves for airtime and money”.
Naidoo feared the latest money-making schemes by children would result in sexual abuse and teenage pregnancy.
Despite a users’ agreement to not post adverts of a sexual, racial or political nature, advertisers have not been complying.
One advert posted by a girl claiming to be 17 years old asks users to call her to make arrangements for airtime to be transferred to her in exchange for “nudy pics of me and sexy chat”.
Recognising that its classified service was being abused, Mxit has stepped up efforts to control the posted content.
“Our intention was to offer Mxit Xchange as a free service, but due to an increase in abusive posts received in the first week of launch, we took the decision to levy a R1 charge per post,” Mxit International marketing manager Juan du Toit said.
A moderator has been appointed to remove adverts that breach Mxit’s terms and conditions, he said.
“If deemed to be transgressing the terms and conditions, the user’s post will be removed and they will be banned for 30 days. Currently banning is immediate,” Du Toit said.
KwaZulu-Natal Childline director Linda Naidoo told The Times the organisation knew of numerous cases of children “sending naked photos of themselves for airtime and money”.
Naidoo feared the latest money-making schemes by children would result in sexual abuse and teenage pregnancy.
Source: http://www.thetimes.co.za
