In this day and age, Internet safety and cyberbullying are among every parent’s biggest concerns. Now, Facebook is acknowledging that with the launch of their new Youth Portal, a platform to give teens the information they need to maintain privacy and security while online, according to a press release.
The portal, which launched on May 13 and is available in 60 languages, has sections devoted to basic topics like friending and unfriending, creating strong passwords, setting up log-in alerts, and more. It also addresses more complex issues, like avoiding phishing scams, understanding Facebook’s data policy (what information is stored), and reporting content that violates the social network’s policies.
In addition to these mini, easy-to-read tutorials, Facebook offers strategies they call “guiding principles” to help its younger users navigate the trickier, more delicate aspects of social media use. Some tips include pausing for five seconds before posting, taking a break from social media if it’s making you feel bad for any reason, supporting friends who may be on the receiving end of negative attention, and changing passwords frequently.
Facebook also announced they’ll be hosting roudtables around the world to continue learning about how young people use Facebook, expanding their safety advisory board to focus on reducing instances of bullying in schools, and working with lawmakers as well as privacy experts to design tools that give teens the information they need to stay safe online.
Though these new resources can’t prevent online bullying or ensure complete safety online, it can be a great learning tool for both parents and kids alike. And, if anything, parents can use Facebook’s Youth Portal as a way to open up a dialogue about Internet safety and privacy with their kids.
