Squashing social networking

Yikes. I recently learned that Illinois State Senator Matt Murphy (R-Palatine) has introduced the Social Networking Website Prohibilition Act, which would banish social networking websites from all public libraries and public schools in Illinois. The bill does not define social networking sites other than to say "social networking websites" (though, oddly enough, terms like "school" and "public library" are defined). Nor is the bill limited to libraries that utilize e-rate funding for Internet access, which means that -- if passed -- the bill would affect us at Uni High. So, very likely it would mean no more Gargoyles Loose in the Library, no more Online Gargoyle, no more web forums, and possibly even no more ability to visit websites that have social networking attributes (like Flickr, LibraryThing, and even Amazon!). According to a February 16th story in the Chicago Tribune, Illinois appears to be the only state where an outright ban is being attempted. But state officials in Georgia and North Carolina have recently called for websites like MySpace to require minors to get parental consent.

I wonder if Senator Murphy really understands the huge range of services that comprise social networking (so much more than MySpace!) and the potentially damaging impact of such legislation on libraries, schools, and young people.