Facebook's New App Protects Youth from Cyberbullying

Most of the time when we write posts regarding social media, we’re talking about its ability to act as a word of mouth marketing tool to help businesses make connections with their target audience, and we’ve also written about the ways that other organizations, like higher education institutions can use social media as a way to build communities and strengthen understanding. Sadly, because of these very reasons, there are also some darker aspects of social media and the effects that it can have on people’s lives, both personal and public.

We’re sure that you’ve all heard any one of the multiple news stories about cyber-bullying and horrible and sometimes fatal, effects it has had on the lives of many young people across the world. The very things that make social media such a powerful tool in the hands of businesses, fundraisers, political campaigners and other social activists are the same things that can make it a powerful weapon in the hands of those out to hurt other people.

A search on Google for “Facebook and Cyberbullying” reveals hundreds of results from news-related horror stories of suicide, bullying and harassment to articles about the struggles that teachers and parents are having protecting youth from the negative results of using social media.



A recent Facebook application developed by SafetyWeb a leading web-based mentoring company, called Find Help is hoping to change all that.  After installing the app, teens will find it extremely easy and quick to get the help they need, from the right channels, to help stop abusive behavior on Facebook. The app allows its users to report bullying, harassment or any other issues directly to Facebook officials, and, in addition to connecting these victims with counselors and professionals that can help, it also gives them access to organizations like suicide prevention hotlines and other help centers.

Why tools like this are important

I’m not going to list all the incidences of reported teen abuse over the last year which show up in Google search results, although that evidence does speak for itself. Instead I’d like to focus on the ways in which a tool like this makes the social web a safer place for all users in our inter-connected society.

Social media is a great place for connecting with the rest of the world, whether for business or personal reasons, but it is often too easy to forget that a huge portion of the internet user population is made up of young adults who need protection from bullying whether over the internet or in person.

The new app is a huge step towards both creating awareness for the issue and helping teens work who have been abused work towards a solution.

Posted by Amberlie Denny at November 4, 2010 8:30 AM

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