Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Stop Cyberbullying and “Find Help” on Facebook

Repost of someone else's earlier post, but well worth sharing. A friend of a friend was stalked on Facebook and these links are nearly impossible to find -- even worse to find after you block the stalker because now you can't point Facebook Customer Service to his/her page!

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In response to increasing concerns about teenagers' safety on Facebook, SafetyWeb.com, a web-based monitoring site, has introduced a new "Find Help" application on Facebook.

The app allows users to report any violation or cyberbullying to Facebook officials while also connecting to safety and support organizations related to cyberbullying, child exploitation, suicide, depression, substance abuse and LGBT issues.

Clicking on the app brings up links for reporting incidents and useful numbers from organizations like the National Center for Missing Exploited Children's CyberTipline, the National Suicide Prevention Hotline and Facebook Abuse Reporting.

Bully victims can find it difficult to self-report incidents; this app will hopefully make it easier for them to not only report abusive behaviour but seek help and guidance at the same time. Cyberbullying is a real problem that has only recently gained mainstream attention due to a rash of teen suicides.

Social networks, despite their friend lists and updates, have also shown the dangers of cyberbullying. While social media tools like "Find Help" won't eradicate the problem, they help paint Facebook not just as the site of bullying but also as a solution to it.

Are there any privacy concerns to downloading an app like this? Is there any danger of falsely reporting abuse? Is Find Help a revolutionary app leading the charge to end cyberbullying? Let us know what you think and if you'd recommend the app in the comments below.
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Reviews: Facebook

More About: bullying, cyberbullying, facebook, find help, safetyweb.com, social networks, suicide

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