Panic buttons, they’re everywhere. From roller coasters to cars, from life alert to bank safes, you can find panic buttons almost anywhere. Now you can also find panic buttons on the Facebook pages of U.K. teens. Senior senator, Amy Klobuchar, would like Facebook’s CEO, Mark Zuckerberg, to expand the panic button to U.S. citizens. She wrote a letter to the CEO as to why we should have a panic button as well. In the letter, Senator Klobuchar said that their top priority was to protect kids from online predators. Research has shown that 1 in 4 American teens have been victims of cyber predators. Only 10% of teens discuss their experience of abusive behavior online with their parents. Even less than that report it to law enforcement. “It’s clear that teenagers need to know how to respond to a cyber attack and I believe we need stronger reporter mechanisms to keep our kids safe” she says, also that “As the web site’s membership expands, new concerns have arisen about how to best protect young users from online predators”. With those issues in mind, she asked Mr. Zuckerberg these few questions:
• “Is it feasible for Facebook to require a prominent safety button or link on the profile pages of users under the age of 18? What barriers prevent Facebook from incorporating such a safety button?
• Does Facebook have an internet safety page available for teenagers and parents? Is there a link or safety button clearly placed on every page? How easy is it to access Internet safety materials?
• What information is included in Facebook’s Internet safety materials? Has Facebook consulted with relevant Internet safety groups in creating and updating this information?
• Does Facebook have a system to allow users to report threats or abuse on the network? How accessible is this threat reporting system?”
Sen. Klobuchar feels that parental involvement is crucial, but young people themselves need to be equipped with the knowledge and tools to protect themselves from threats in the online world.
Andrew Noyes, Facebook spokesperson, responded to Sen. Klobuchar’s letter and promotes other safety measures but doesn’t talk about a “panic button”. Here’s what he had to say: “We share Sen. Klobuchar’s concern for Internet safety and believe Facebook has been a leader through the creation of our Safety Advisory Board, the expansion of our Safety Center, and the establishment of a partnership with the National PTA to educate parents, teachers, and students about online safety. Facebook offers reporting links throughout the site and we believe the “Help” links on every page provide an effective mechanism for people to reach our Safety Center, which is featured prominently on the landing page. We continue to concentrate our efforts on expanding safety information on the site and partnering with experts to create opportunities to educate people about online safety in school, at home, and elsewhere.
Senator Klobuchar believes panic buttons are crucial for Facebook. It will help young people to learn how to protect themselves from cyber predators and other online threats. “There is no single solution to making the Internet safe,” she says, “But a prominent button at the top of every page that links to resources and information about Internet safety would go a long way to empower and inform teenagers and parents”.
Who is Kayla Houston: I am 14 years old and about to be a freshman in high school in Jacksonville, Florida. I am also a smart, hardworking girl who always succeeds at what I try my best to do.
