Facebook Rolls Out ‘Panic’ Button For Teen Safety

Facebook has finally given in to the widespread demand of a move to tackle cyber bullying.

Facebook will now help teenagers to fight cyber abuse and bullying by deploying a panic button on its sites. The “panic button” – is actually an opt-in Facebook application that adds a tab onto your Facebook profile — was created by the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Center (CEOP). Underage users (as stated by their Facebook profile age) will see the button on their Facebook homepage.

The button will actually connect the teens with resources hosted by the CEOP. Teens will be given advice and resources on dealing with potential threats on the Internet, and they may also report users who they believe are acting inappropriately toward them.

“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” Jim Gamble, chief executive of the CEOP said.

Facebook faced the ire earlier this year, after the rape and murder of 17-year-old Ashleigh Hall by a 33-year-old convicted sex offender, posing as a teenage boy, who she met on Facebook. Facebook initially resisted the CEOP app, claiming its protection and reporting systems were adequate. But Facebook finally agreed to cooperate with CEOP.
Panic buttons were already in use on social networking sites Bebo and MySpace.

Lets hope the move is implemented in a responsible manner and proves helpful to its users.