Released on = January 20, 2007, 1:44 pm

Press Release Author = John Monteleone

Industry = Internet & Online

Press Release Summary = Social networking site separates children and adults by
integration of age and identification verification system, conforming to Blumenthal
and 34 attorneys general safety recommendations without compromising privacy.

Press Release Body = In an effort to avoid the safety problems that popular social
networking communities have recently experienced, Group Members International L.L.C.
(GMI), a Connecticut based creator of socially responsible online communities, is
utilizing a new safety solution that works. As recommended by a group of 34 state
attorney generals led by Richard Blumenthal, an Age and Identity Verification system
has been integrated into the registration process of the new social networking
community, GrownUpsOnline.com. CEO John Monteleone supports Blumenthal’s
position that online social networking communities must use Age & Identity
Verification to protect children from the risks that occur by mixing children and
grownups in online communities where anonymity rules. Monteleone believes the only
solution is to have separate communities for adults and children, both with
membership verified by age.

Monteleone commends other popular online social community’s attempts at
dealing directly with online safety issues, but believes that Age and Identity
Verification is a superior solution to recently publicized software integration.
Both site users and site management will need to see the final implementation of
the various software solutions to determine the actual level of effectiveness
compared to our verification system. Blumenthal and the group of 34 state
attorney generals want the popular online communities that mix minors and adults
as peers to cross check users\' details with government databases to verify their
age.

Following the Blumenthal model, GMI created GrownUpsOnline.com and implemented
the Age and Identity Verification from the very beginning, thereby avoiding the
mix of children and grownups that has plagued the other social networks.
Monteleone also stated “we don\'t mix children and adults on a peer level
socially off line due to the difference in maturity and interests, so why are we
mixing children and adults online on the same peer level.” Separation of
children from grownups is the solution and Age and Identity Verification is the
process that the attorney generals are supporting.

Parents are also concerned about user privacy violations. The possible privacy
violation issues are repeatedly being used as a reason for social networks to not
use the Age and Identity Verification system. This just is not the case with the
system chosen by GrownUpsOnline. Age and Identity Verification actually addresses
social responsibility and privacy compliance issues. Stated on the GrownUpsOnline
registration page, the process is; SSN Act Compliant, SSNPA Compliant, Customer
Privacy Act Compliant, DPPA Compliant, FCRA Compliant, Graham Leach-Bliley Act
Compliant, COPA Compliant, and COPPA Compliant.

The system reports with a yes or a no that the user submitted registration
information is true. GrownUpsOnline does not retain any other information other
than name, address, age and birthday. Monteleone said “users can still be
aliased on the site, but every username is attached to a verified person, of whom
only management knows the true identity. This promotes socially responsible
behavior as now users can be held accountable for there online actions. This is
an added benefit of the system and marks an end to the “Wild West
Atmosphere” that proliferates on other social networking communities\"

Pattie Dillon, President of Veratad Technologies, LLC of Englewood, NJ, the Age
and ID Verification firm providing the verification services to
GrownUpsOnline.com, stated \"Social Networks are a growing part of the Internet
Community and we are pleased to play a role in facilitating that growth by
helping GrownUpsOnline.com manage responsible online account access. Veratad is a
provider of real-time online Identity Verification Solutions designed to verify
an individual’s identity and age while maintaining a high level of privacy
protection for consumers.” Last year Veratad was selected as a fact witness
by the United States Department of Justice to present testimony on the
effectiveness of online age verification in the ongoing ACLU challenge to the
constitutionality of the Child Online Protection Act (COPA) and has gone on to
serve as a consultant to the DOJ regarding this very important case.

The minimum age to join GrownUpsOnline is 21, thereby keeping a separation
between children and grownups that Monteleone states “have different value
systems based on their age”. This system is the only way to make the
separation possible. Age and Identity Verification is not a free service, for the
provider or the site member. The cost of the service is one of the issues
preventing its implementation; free sites would need to charge as ad revenues may
not cover the cost of providing the service. GrownUpsOnline charges a small fee
for membership, but both management and members realize the fee is the cost of
building trust between its members, and the value of providing a safe Internet
environment.

Web Site = http://www.GrownUpsOnline.com

Contact Details = John Monteleone
Southbury, Connecticut
email:contact@GrownUpsOnline.com
phone:203-565-6100