Paedophiles alert on dating website
Updated on 18 July 2008
The NSPCC has urged children to stay away from a teen dating website because it fears sex offenders may be online.
The children's charity has reported mylol.net to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP).
The warning came after the NSPCC found adults - some in their 60s - had registered on the same site which attracts more than 1,000 UK children searching for a "date".
Some of the children registered say they are as young as nine and the NSPCC found pictures of teenagers posing in only their underwear.
The charity said it also found evidence of adults asking children for mobile numbers and personal details on the unregulated site which has nearly 1,700 UK users.
NSPCC policy adviser Zoe Hilton said: "Teen dating sites attract youngsters looking for an innocent summer romance over the holidays.
"We are extremely concerned that teenagers are giving out their photos and personal details on these sites in the search for a boyfriend or girlfriend.
"They may be unaware that adult sex offenders are around looking for a child to groom."
She added: "Mylol.net could be a sex offender's playground. Unless it improves security and properly moderates users children should steer well clear of it. All social networking sites should carry clear warnings to deter young users and warn children against giving out personal details or arranging to meet someone from the site."
The NSPCC said parents and children should contact CEOP immediately if they have concerns about activity on the site. A CEOP spokesman said he could not comment on specific complaints but said young people should always take care when using the internet.
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