Erotic networking site hopes to deter minors with 'adult' label

Utherverse CEO Brian Shuster hopes the "adults only" label on his new, pornographic, online network will help the site avoid the presence of sexual predators and minors that give false ages, a problem that has baffled networking sites for some time now.

The Utherverse (pronounced "other-verse") home page looks exactly like a porn site (not that we'd know) complete with images of nude people and avatars, some of which are participating inÂ?well you know...."adult" stuff.

Once inside the network, individuals can upload erotic photos, build a fantasy profile, and look for other users to "network" with.

The site is mostly free, easy to use and has some innovative features for an online network, such as the "Red Light Social Center," a series of 3D worlds in which user-created avatars visit and interact with one another in virtual bars, nightclubs, movie theatres and hotels. For additional fee, the avatars can be, well, intimate with one another.

In other words, there's no cover charge to get into the bar, but you have to pay to play.

The site, which has about 30,000 members, according to Shuster, launched "quietly" in May to give the company time to closely observe the live site with a small membership.

"We've been testing this under the radar for a period of time," he said. "And we can confidently say we don't think we'll have a problem with minors or predators."

In the first place, he said, the site's adults-only label will deter sexual predators looking for under-age victims.

And even though the 35-person, Lake Tahoe, Nev.-based company has six customer service staffers who help to sniff out users behaving in a minor-esque manner, Shuster said he employs a community of network members who volunteer their time to "police the system" in return for intimate avatar sessions--free of charge.

"We have thousands of users trying to be volunteers right now," he said.

Once a user is suspected as being a minor, he or she is approached by a moderator, Shuster said. If they determine the user is underage, the profile is deleted immediately.

"The community is a powerful tool," Shuster said. "I'm constantly amazed by the responsiveness I get. I think it gives a sense of purpose."