Gov, Police, Swift Want to Delete Online Predators

Country music artist Taylor Swift has become the face of a campaign to combat internet crimes against children.

At Hendersonville’s Merrol Hyde Magnet School, the 17-year-old singer stood before a room of 7th and 8th graders (today/yesterday) with Governor Phil Bredesen. The unlikely pair kicked off a one-year drive to educate students of the dangers online.

Swift says her own experience with social networking sites will help her connect with young internet users.

“You know, myspace is one of the ways that broke me. That’s where my core fan base is. That’s where I spend most of my time online. Although I love the beauty of myspace, you have to be aware of the fact that there are people out there who are not right and don’t have the best of intentions in mind.”

The campaign urges the state’s more-than 150-thousand middle schoolers to keep private information to themselves online and never set up face-to-face meetings with people they don’t know. Police officials say there’s a growing number of crimes originating from encounters on the web.

As part of the state campaign, this web site will be updated with news and information about crime tactics and safety efforts in Tennessee.