Police urge teens to be ’appy and safe online

POLICE are urging parents of teenage Facebook users in Nottinghamshire to check they have added a new application that will make them safer online throughout the school holidays and beyond.

The UK’s national centre for child protection – the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre - has joined forces with the biggest social networking site to develop the initiative.

For the first time, it will give all Facebook users in the UK – especially teenagers – direct access to the ClickCEOP advice and reporting centre.

This site provides the very latest help in online safety as well as a dedicated facility for reporting instances of suspected ‘grooming’ or inappropriate sexual behaviour.

Access will be provided via an application, or ‘app’, that users can download and add, or bookmark, so it appears on the young person’s profile.

It then provides a constant source of help and reassurance for them and is a strong visual signal to their friends, family and others that they are in control online.

An automatic advert will appear on every Facebook profile of users aged between 13-18 years inviting them to add the app.

Sgt Debbie Barton, of Nottinghamshire Police Communities and Partnerships Department said: “The internet is an amazing place where we can connect with each other and have fun, but we know that young users of social networking sites can be vulnerable.

“CEOP’s announcement represents a significant step forward in keeping young people safer on Facebook and comes at an ideal time, early in the holidays, as teenagers have plenty of extra free time on their hands.

“We would certainly urge all teenage users in Nottinghamshire to add this application now and, if you are a parent, encourage your children to add the ‘app’ as well as adding it to your own Facebook page, if you have one.

“Doing this acts as a visible deterrent to offenders and your child will also receive regular online safety tips from CEOP, so you can feel reassured they are better protected online.”

As well as adding the ClickCEOP app, there are a number of ways in which young people can stay safe when using Facebook:

·     Make sure privacy settings are set to private so the only people who can see your page and information are your friends

·     Some people lie about who they are online so only add friends who you know in the real world

·     Block or delete people who upset you or send nasty messages

·     Tell a trusted adult if you have a concern about something that has happened to you online

Jim Gamble, Chief Executive of the CEOP Centre said: “Today represents a huge step forward. By adding this app, Facebook users will have direct access to all the services that sit behind our ClickCEOP button and this should provide reassurance for the many parents whose teenage children use Facebook. “We know from speaking to offenders that a visible deterrent could protect young people online..”

Joanna Shields, Facebook’s Vice President for EMEA said: “By joining forces with CEOP, we have developed a new way of helping young people stay safe online. It is only through the constant and concerted effort of the industry, police, parents and young people themselves that we can all keep safe online – whether on Facebook or elsewhere.”

CEOP’s new Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/clickceop) will contain polls, news alerts and status updates.

The page will look at topics that teenagers care about, such as celebrities, music and exams and will link these subjects to questions about online safety. The CEOP page will also give users the option to add the new ClickCEOP application.