Microsoft's confirmed that upcoming Xbox 360 social network features - currently being beta tested - cannot be used by those under the age of 18.
"As some of you might be aware, those under the age of 18 are not able to access Twitter, Facebook and Last.fm in our public preview," says MS community man Major Nelson. "I want to let you know that this will remain the case when it launches to the world soon."
Apparently the platform holder made the decision because as it stands, "parents aren't able to use Family Settings to customize which of these applications their children can access.
Xbox 360: Social networking
Official trailer
1:09Facebook, Twitter on 360
Xbox 360: Social networking
Official trailer
1:09Facebook, Twitter on 360
Age Restricted Content Please enter your date of birth below in order to verify your age before watching this video
You must be at least 0 years of age.
Play Again? Missed something? Just watch it again..
Watch More Videos Browse related videos and see what's new & popular
Share This Video Email this video, or embed it into your own web page
"In order to offer an age-appropriate environment for everyone, we decided to turn off these applications for those Gold members under the age of 18," says the Major.
"As expected, this has been a hot topic with the preview users. We want to make sure everyone was aware," he added, noting that the development team is busy working on an update that gives parents the choice of which social applications their children can access.
"The team hope to roll this out several weeks after launch and I will update you on the exact date as it gets closer."
However, a several weeks afterwards an update that gives parents the choice of which social applications their children can access will be sent out. This means that Xbox LIVE members between the ages of 13 and 17 will be able to use Facebook, Twitter and Last.fm as long as their parents approve.
This is nothing to get upset about anyhoo. How many people seriously use the family settings on their 360's anyway. It's gonna make sod all difference to the majority of under 18's realistically. Can't imagine many using it anyway. Just use a PC, sorted!
I've used it as part of the beta update, and it's not worth getting in a huff about. Not all that great. They're standalone applications, so you can't keep listening to last.fm once you exit it, and you can't follow links from Twitter or Facebook.
Edit - also, having Zune instead of the old video section means you now no longer see the filesize (a minor niggle, but useful for those of us still stuck with 20 gig drives) and you also lose the file deletion confirmation option; once you hit delete, it's gone, which is quite annoying if you're cack-handed like me.
its not just 'family settings' as i switched off most of mine for my 12 year old now...he is signed up as a 12 year old on his birthday,so wont get Facebook & Twitter but his friends at school all use facebook etc...so I think we, parents, should have the option of allowing our children access to these sites on x360 MS...I hope thats what you dedcide.
They should do this with the actual console games to, There is nothing worse than playing cod or l4d with some 10yr old and listening to there annoying screaming and abusive tones!
Alas tho they wont do anything about it, Just gonna have to stay in my party as to avoid listening to them!
This is rich considering last year everyone was worried MS was going to turn the white box into a DVD player, for the "family". In't it sweet Microsoft, that you can all curl up on the couch but if you want to check your status updates,you have to send your children to their respective rooms. This must be some kind of ploy to make Facebook and Twitter popular for rebellious kids. Oh, I can imagine the tweets now: "ON XBOX LIVE TWITTER M8! UNDER 18! VIVA LA REVELUCION!"
Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, UK BA1 2BW England and Wales company registration number 2008885
