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Millions of young people have been made safer online thanks to a major step forward by AOL owned social networking site, Bebo and the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre.
On Tuesday 17 November 2009, the 'CEOP Report' button, which gives Bebo users a powerful tool to report online abuse and illicit activity, was added across the Bebo website to enhance its existing 'Report Abuse' functionality.
By clicking on the CEOP report button - which will appear on every profile as an automatic setting - young people, parents and carers will be able to access the latest advice and help around issues such as viruses and hacking. Users will also find details of their local police and will be able to directly contact specially trained CEOP officers via an online reporting mechanism.
Any user of the service will not only be able to access advice and support from CEOP, but also have direct links to a total of ten different sources of help ranging from Childline to Beatbullying, building on Bebo's existing support partners, housed within the BeWell platform.
Around 10,000 people a month are already pressing the CEOP button across other online services, and the CEOP Centre receives more than 5,000 report this way each year.
Jim Gamble, Chief Executive of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre said: "There can hardly be a parent in the land whose teenager isn't part of a social networking site. These environments are huge and bring a vast array of converged facilities - uploads, downloads, chats and so on - that are now so integral to young people's lives."
"What today means is that every member of the Bebo community has one-click access to a powerful tool that gives them safety help and advice as well as that ultimate reassurance, the ability to find their local police or to speak to us direct via an online reporting mechanism.
For so long now we have been saying that we must treat the internet in the same way as any other public space - protecting young people by giving them and their parents and carers the authoritative back up that safeguards their interests and deters potential offenders."
"Today Bebo has made another positive move towards protecting the wellbeing of its users. Users of other areas may want to see the same service provided for them - if so we are happy to work with all site providers to offer this free link and ultimate support."
Stephane Panier, President of Bebo, said: "Bebo is committed to providing its community with the safest possible environment; one that is based on respect, tolerance and inclusion. Today marks an advance in the level of support and protection we provide our users, and by working in partnership with organisations such as CEOP, we are able to focus on creating an open, engaging and fun environment for our community."
John Ryan, Chief of Global Public Safety for AOL, Bebo's parent company, said: "We are pleased to partner with CEOP to make this important reporting tool available to our Bebo community. We are committed to providing the Bebo community with a diverse set of tools to create a safer, more enjoyable online environment for everyone. This tool will empower the Bebo community to quickly report inappropriate behavior to Bebo or, if warranted, directly to law enforcement."
MORE THAN 8 MILLION* USERS GET ADDED SAFETY SUPPORT AS BEBO ADOPTS 'CEOP REPORT' BUTTON
November 18, 2009
Social networking site breaks new ground with the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) CentreMillions of young people have been made safer online thanks to a major step forward by AOL owned social networking site, Bebo and the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre.
On Tuesday 17 November 2009, the 'CEOP Report' button, which gives Bebo users a powerful tool to report online abuse and illicit activity, was added across the Bebo website to enhance its existing 'Report Abuse' functionality.
By clicking on the CEOP report button - which will appear on every profile as an automatic setting - young people, parents and carers will be able to access the latest advice and help around issues such as viruses and hacking. Users will also find details of their local police and will be able to directly contact specially trained CEOP officers via an online reporting mechanism.
Any user of the service will not only be able to access advice and support from CEOP, but also have direct links to a total of ten different sources of help ranging from Childline to Beatbullying, building on Bebo's existing support partners, housed within the BeWell platform.
Around 10,000 people a month are already pressing the CEOP button across other online services, and the CEOP Centre receives more than 5,000 report this way each year.
Jim Gamble, Chief Executive of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre said: "There can hardly be a parent in the land whose teenager isn't part of a social networking site. These environments are huge and bring a vast array of converged facilities - uploads, downloads, chats and so on - that are now so integral to young people's lives."
"What today means is that every member of the Bebo community has one-click access to a powerful tool that gives them safety help and advice as well as that ultimate reassurance, the ability to find their local police or to speak to us direct via an online reporting mechanism.
For so long now we have been saying that we must treat the internet in the same way as any other public space - protecting young people by giving them and their parents and carers the authoritative back up that safeguards their interests and deters potential offenders."
"Today Bebo has made another positive move towards protecting the wellbeing of its users. Users of other areas may want to see the same service provided for them - if so we are happy to work with all site providers to offer this free link and ultimate support."
Stephane Panier, President of Bebo, said: "Bebo is committed to providing its community with the safest possible environment; one that is based on respect, tolerance and inclusion. Today marks an advance in the level of support and protection we provide our users, and by working in partnership with organisations such as CEOP, we are able to focus on creating an open, engaging and fun environment for our community."
John Ryan, Chief of Global Public Safety for AOL, Bebo's parent company, said: "We are pleased to partner with CEOP to make this important reporting tool available to our Bebo community. We are committed to providing the Bebo community with a diverse set of tools to create a safer, more enjoyable online environment for everyone. This tool will empower the Bebo community to quickly report inappropriate behavior to Bebo or, if warranted, directly to law enforcement."
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