Facebook branded 'arrogant' and 'complacent' towards paedophile threat

A child-protection expert has branded Facebook 'arrogant' and 'complacent' despite an in increase in reports of paedophile activity on the site.  

Safety Tips for Google Buzz

Google's fledgling Social Networking effort, Google Buzz, launched in February 2010 and immediately caused a storm of controversy over its privacy and safety implications.  

Bloggers and tech writers worried about the 'opt-out' nature of the service (which meant that all Google Mail users were instantly members, whether they liked it or not), the lack of control over personal information such as photographs and friend lists, and the geolocation features (which made it possible to disclose your exact location from your mobile phone).  

Pupils Bully Teachers on Facebook

According to a report by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) pupils are increasingly using social networking sites to undermine and bully teachers.  Some pupils are even making malicious and unfounded allegations of sexual misconduct against teachers.

In one instance a pupil set up a profile under the name of a teacher and wrote on the profile that he enjoyed 'under age sex with both boys and girls'.  In another, pupils set up a Facebook group entitled 'Join this group if you think Mrs [name removed] is still a virgin.'

YouTube introduces ‘Safety Mode’ for it’s 5th Birthday

It’s hard to believe that monolithic video-sharing site YouTube is only five years old, but indeed, the Google-owned site celebrated it’s 5th Birthday on 14th February 2010.

Like most ‘social networking’ or ‘social media’ sites, the openness of YouTube can be seen as very much a mixed blessing.  Whilst there is no doubt that so-called ‘user-generated’ content present on YouTube has seen a massive boon in creativity in young people, there is a darker side, where violent and explicit material can very quickly become available to all.

Today is Safer Internet Day - Think B4 U Post!

Today, 9th February 2009, is Safer Internet Day 2010.  The worldwide initiative is organised each year to promote safer and more responsible use of online technology, particularly amongst children throughout the world. 

The message which Safer Internet Day is promoting this year is Think B4 U Post!

Click Read More for more information, and to view a video about this year’s Safer Internet Day message.

Teens Not Interested in ‘Blogging’ or ‘Tweeting’, Prefer Facebook

A study published this week by US organisation Pew Internet reveals the surprising conclusion that, whilst teens spend a long time on Facebook viewing status updates and photographs, they are far less likely to write a blog or use Twitter.