Pedophiles are using Facebook to lure children, and the authorities are not happy about it.
Under governmental pressure, Facebook has stated that it has “no objection in principle” to adding a ‘panic button’ to the website for kids who feel that they may be in danger.
What function the button would actually have has not been released in great detail, or if there is a time schedule in mind. Renewed calls for a panic feature comes after a high-profile murder involving a child and a Facebook stalker, pretending to be someone who he was not.
Facebook, like any other social network, has privacy issues. You cannot let everyone join, without letting everyone join. Some people are just not out to make new friends and connections.
Of course, even a new function on the website allowing children to alert the authorities of possible misconduct (if the feature is not blatantly abused, which it most likely will be), will not stop the problem. Posting information and communicating online has risks, and nothing except careful parental oversight will help kids navigate those waters successfully.
While a ‘panic button’ does not address the roots of the problem, it may help in a percentage of the cases, making it of endless use and value. Facebook has its own systems currently in place, but like anything else they can be improved on.
Great post, Alex. I completely agree that it will not only be abused, but also stands to be of incredible worth.
So glad you mentioned that the main thing that will protect the children is active parental involvement. I'm a little shocked that some of the kids at my kids' elementary school are on FB.
And we all know, parents really get the 'tubes. [well, you do Rick, but you are awesome minority!]
Good post, much more balanced than others on this subject that I've read/seen today (scaremongering on the news).
While I see the obvious merits of such a system, the way it is handled by Facebook would obviously be very important. In that someone's friends would probably find it very amusing to push said “panic button” and cause a whole load of trouble for the person who ends up on the wrong end of such a prank, if it isn't advertised to users what this button would actually involve (informing the police/investigation by facebook?)
Another way to protect children, I don't believe in all the protection systems used on the Internet. Like you said in this post it is the parents who should protect children in the first place. With an efficient parental guidance our kids will be safe and no other protection will be needed.
Why was a child on Facebook anyway? I don't think a panic button is a good idea. Of course it would be abused, and then what – Facebook has to open a “cyber-crime” division? Why would we leave it up to them?