Forty-nine states including New Jersey have struck a deal with social networking site MySpace.com designed to keep online predators away from kids.

Several states? attorneys general announced the site will add protections and work to develop new security technology. Other social networking sites will be invited to take part. As part of the agreement, MySpace.com will also accept independent monitoring and changes to the site?s structure.

?This is an historic agreement that shows cooperation between law enforcement, MySpace and the Internet community in general,? New Jersey state Attorney General Ann Milgram says. She says the deal will make the Internet safer for everybody, but especially children.

The agreement also includes easier reporting of abuses on the site, response to those complaints within one to three days and better verification of members? ages and identities.

Critics maintain age verification technology is not good enough yet, but say the deal is a positive step.