Tuesday 17 November 2009
More than 8 million young users get added safety support as Bebo adopts ‘CEOP Report’ button
Social networking site breaks new ground with the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre
Millions of young people have been made safer online thanks to a major step forward by AOL owned social networking site Bebo and the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre.
On Tuesday 17 November 2009, the ‘CEOP Report’ button, which gives Bebo users a powerful tool to report online abuse and illicit activity, was added across the Bebo website to enhance its existing ‘Report Abuse’ functionality.
By clicking on the CEOP Report button – which will appear on every profile as an automatic setting – young people, parents and carers will be able to access to the latest advice and help around issues such as viruses and hacking. Users will also find details of their local police and will be able to directly contact specially trained CEOP officers via an online reporting mechanism.
A short 30 second film, narrated by ITV’s ‘The Bill’ actress Amita Dhiri, introduces the button and can be viewed at www.ceop.police.uk/mediacentre/films/ceopreport.asp
Any user of the service will not only be able to access advice and support from CEOP, but also have direct links to a total of ten different sources of help ranging from Childline to Beatbullying, building on Bebo’s existing support partners, housed within the BeWell platform.
Around 10,000 people a month are already pressing the button for advice and help across other online services.
Jim Gamble, Chief Executive of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre said:
“There can hardly be a parent in the land whose teenager isn’t part of a social networking site. These environments are huge and bring a vast array of converged facilities – uploads, downloads,p chats and so on – that are now so integral to young people’s lives.”
“What today means is that every member of the Bebo community has one-click access to a powerful tool that gives them safety help and advice as well as that ultimate reassurance, the ability to find their local police or to speak to us direct via an online reporting mechanism.”
“For so long now we have been saying that we must treat the internet in the same way as any other public space – protecting young people by giving them and their parents and carers the authoritative back up that safeguards their interests and deters potential offenders.”
“Today Bebo has made another positive move towards protecting the wellbeing of its users. Our challenge to other social networking site providers is to match the commitment made by AOL Bebo today and to help make young users safer across all social networking sites.”
Sir Hugh Orde, President of Association of Chief Police Officers, said:
“I think this is a very responsible approach by Bebo and I commend them for it. This is an ideal opportunity to keep young people who use social networking sites as safe as possible while they are online. I can see no reason why other sites would not consider adopting the same approach and would encourage them to embed the CEOP Report button for the benefit of all users.”
Stephane Panier, Chief Executive of Bebo, said:
“Bebo is committed to providing its community with the safest possible environment; one that is based on respect, tolerance and inclusion. Today marks an advance in the level of support and protection we provide our users, and by working in partnership with organisations such as CEOP, we are able to create an open, engaging and fun environment for our community.”
John Ryan, Chief of Global Public Safety for AOL, Bebo’s parent company, said:
“We are pleased to partner with CEOP to make this important reporting tool available to our Bebo community. We are committed to providing the Bebo community with a diverse set of tools to create a safer, more enjoyable online environment for everyone. This tool will empower the Bebo community to quickly report inappropriate behavior to Bebo or, if warranted, directly to law enforcement.”
- Ends -
Notes to editors
CEOP
The Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre was launched in April 2006 to provide a focus for tackling the exploitation of children. It is part of UK policing and delivers a holistic approach by embedding specialists from the police, children’s charities, education, industry and government.
** Broadcasters can download a 30 second film about the CEOP Report button from the link below **
https://www.yousendit.com/download/TzY0K3BOR0ZqY3FGa1E9PQ
Media contacts:
Clive Michel, Vicky Gillings, Hannah Bickers on 0870 000 3434 or Geraldine McGrory on 07870 657531
Bebo
Bebo is your life online. It is a social experience the helps you discover what's going on with your world and helps the world discover what’s going on with you. Bebo has more than 21 million** unique visitors worldwide and on the days that they use Bebo, they spend an average of 21** minutes on the site. Bebo, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of AOL LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc. (NYSE:TWX).
Source for metrics data in this release:
**comScore Media Metrix August 2009
AOL
About AOL
AOL is a leading global Web services company with an extensive suite of brands and offerings and a substantial worldwide audience. AOL’s business spans online content, products and services that the company offers to consumers, publishers and advertisers. AOL is focused on attracting and engaging consumers and providing valuable online advertising services on both AOL’s owned and operated properties and third-party websites. In addition, AOL operates one of the largest Internet subscription access services in the United States, which serves as a valuable distribution channel for AOL’s consumer offerings. AOL LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc.
‘CEOP Report’
‘CEOP Report’ is an online button which gives children and young people, their parents and carers access to immediate online advice with just one click where they see the ‘CEOP Report’ sign. It gives information on areas including viruses, cyber-bullying, hacking and online grooming by signposting to experts in each particular field. The CEOP Report button sign also allows users to find contact details for their local police or to contact specially trained CEOP officers through an online reporting mechanism. Behind the button it is possible access to a global network of law enforcement partners called the Virtual Global Taskforce which includes partners in Australia, the United States, Canada, Italy and Interpol.
The ‘CEOP Report’ button can be downloaded for free from www.ceop.police.uk/digitallibrary
Hannah Bickers
Corporate Communications Officer
Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) Centre
T: +44 (0)20 7238 2388
M: +44 (0)7920 560008
E: hannah.bickers@ceop.gsi.gov.uk
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