Hartford, Conn. - Lawmakers in Connecticut have introduced a bill that would require MySpace and other social networking sites to verify the ages of their users, and require those under 18 to obtain their parents' permission before posting a profile, the Associated Press reported.

New York - Viacom's Nickelodeon children's TV network has announced the launch of a new TV programming block that features user-generated content provided by kids. "ME:TV," which airs live Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 p.m., will integrate content submitted via Nick.com and TurboNick, the network's broadband player. The show will also feature four kids live each day via webcam.

Redwood City, Calif. - Obopay, a provider of mobile payments technology, announced on Tuesday the launch of a new Sponsored Accounts service that lets children under 18 send and receive money using their mobile phones. Parents can provide funds to an Obopay account linked to their childrens' mobile phones, while retaining the ability to track and control the account -- which can be used for online purchases or to provide emergency funds.

New York - A federal judge has granted MySpace's motion to dismiss charges of negligence, fraud and negligent misrepresentation filed by the family of a girl from Austin, Texas who was assaulted by a man she met on the website, Reuters reported.

San Antonio, Texas - AT&T on Friday introduced Smart Limits, a new website that provides directions on how to use parental controls across its mobile phone, broadband, video and home phone services. The site includes information on topics like Internet filters, and TV channel and phone-number blockers.

Washington - A bill introduced in the U.S. Senate on Friday would create a national database of child pornography images -- both real and "cartoon" -- and require Internet service providers to monitor traffic and report such images to authorities.

New York - Publisher Conde Nast's CondeNet digital arm has announced the launch of Flip, a new social networking site for teen girls.

Chicago - Some 42% of U.S. youth (ages 10-17) have seen online pornography, with two-thirds saying they were not looking for porn when they encountered it, according to a new study from the University of New Hampshire in Durham published in the medical journal Pediatrics.

Owings Mills, Md. - Maryland Public Television (MPT) said on Thursday that it has hired Boston-based educational media producer FableVision to develop an online math and literacy game aimed at students in upper elementary and middle school grades. FableVision is collaborating with MPT and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to produce the software game, which is part of MPT's Learning Games To Go initiative -- the centerpiece of a $15 million grant awarded from the U.S. Department of Education Star Schools program.

Charleston, W. Va. - Children who consistently play Konami's "Dance Dance Revolution" (DDR) dance-based video game have shown improvements in health, attitude and behavior, according to a study conducted by West Virginia Games for Health, a research project of West Virginia University and the West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency.

London - The BBC plans to launch a virtual world for kids in the fall of 2007 that lets them build avatars and create and share content, BBC Online reported.

New York - Viacom's Nickelodeon children's network said on Tuesday it will launch several online features to complement its animated TV series, "Avatar: The Last Airbender." An animated online comic book from the series' creators, online game event, and new Avatar shorts will be added to a dedicated site. Kids can watch the show on Saturdays and use cheats announced on-air to unlock online animated shorts, as well as new levels in an online game.