Feds vs. MySpace: The Game

This year has already brought ample paranoia from the Feds and U.S. politicians convinced that legions of child predators lurk in social networking Web sites.

Now the Federal Trade Commission has added a new tool to an existing arsenal of Internet protection tips offered through a site called OnGuardOnline.gov.

On Tuesday, the agency launched a Flash-based game called "Buddy Builder." Available in English and Spanish, its goal is to teach kids how to screen out Internet creeps that would like nothing more than to steal their identities or sexually assault them--"hackers, slackers, gawkers and stalkers," as the introduction puts it. (It's unclear where "slackers" fit in, other then for poetry's sake.)

Most of the interactive quiz involves sample messages, which pop up from imaginary buddies and instruct the player to click "accept" or "deny" buttons based on their judgments of the persona behind the request.

The lessons taught aren't all that earth-shattering: If your Uncle John and Aunt Mary ask to be added to your buddy list and you do, in fact, have relatives bearing those names, then you're praised for accepting the buddy. Similarly, you're admonished if you dare to accept a buddy who approaches you with messages like "Wazzup? I think I know U--send me your pic (in swimsuit, pls)!"

An arguably less intrusive entreaty--"I just moved to the area, and think you're really good looking. R U dating anyone?"--is expected to earn a similar denial. "Flirting with strangers online can have serious consequences," the game preaches.

Absent from the quiz is advice on dealing with creepy messages from, say, elected officials.