Facebook is finally adopting a CEOP internet safety button on its websites, a long awaited panic button and information link offering online safety advice to young people.
The news follows a long-running debate between the UK’s national centre for protecting children, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre, and Facebook; as well as other social networking sites.
The announcement has been made in the wake of ongoing concerns about child safety on Facebook and other internet sites which promote social interaction with strangers.
CEOP has long wanted all social network websites to adopt its one click button on their sites so children can get immediate police help and advice, in the event of any suspicious activity from other internet users.
There have been a number of high profile cases involving predators targeting children on networking websites.
Young Facebook users across the UK are now the focus of a new initiative by CEOP and Facebook.
Now for the first time all Facebook users in the UK, especially those aged 13 to 18, can have direct access to CEOP’s advice and reporting centre.
Youngsters will be able to ClickCEOP from their homepage, offering advice on online safety as well as a dedicated facility for reporting instances of inappropriate behaviour.
Chief Executive of CEOP Jim Gamble said:
“By adding this application, Facebook users will have direct access to all the services that sit behind our ClickCEOP button which should provide reassurance to every parent with teenagers on the site.
“We know from speaking to offenders that a visible deterrent could protect young people online. We urge all Facebook users to add the app and bookmark it so that others can see that they are in control online.”
Access to the ClickCEOP button will be provided via an application that users can add or bookmark so that it appears on their homepage as not only a constant source of help and reassurance for them but also as a strong visual signal to their friends, family and others that they are in control online.
Joanna Shields, Facebook’s Vice President for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) said:
“There is no single silver bullet to making the internet safer but by joining forces with CEOP we have developed a comprehensive solution which marries our expertise in technology with CEOP’s expertise in online safety.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our users, which is why we have invested so much in making Facebook one of the safest places on the internet.
“It is only through the constant and concerted effort of the industry, police, parents and young people themselves that we can all keep safe online – whether on Facebook or elsewhere.”
The application is backed by a new CEOP page that will look to engage with young people to help raise the profile of online safety.
The initiative is being seen as a welcome collaboration between CEOP and Facebook that combines Facebook technology expertise connecting people and organisations and CEOP’s knowledge of internet safety and security; as well as CEOP’s role as the national centre for child protection.
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