Why age verification won't make MySpace or Second Life better

"Age verification" has been a hot topic as of late as a means for keeping children safe on the Internet. Here's how the argument works: if sites such as MySpace and virtual worlds like Second Life used age-verification methods, they could magically cut down on the number of children being exploited by sexual predators online. After all, if we could somehow figure out a way to keep kids and adults separate online, it would certainly take care of many of the concerns voiced by the parents of Internet-using children.