Facebook overhauls online Safety Center

by Stevie Smith - Apr 14 2010, 13:03

Facebook may paint something of a target on its chest when dealing with contentious privacy issues but, where user safety is concerned, the world’s leading social network insists it takes the subject “very seriously” – which is why it has overhauled its Safety Center.

“Safety is Facebook’s top priority,” offered Joe Sullivan, the social networking service’s chief security officer (and parent of three) via the official Facebook blog.

“Our most talented people are dedicated to creating an environment where people can connect and share comfortably,” he added. “As a result, we’re unveiling today a completely redesigned Safety Center [that] offers new safety resources for parents, educators, teens and members of the law enforcement community.”

According to Facebook, it has “quadrupled the safety content” offered by the Safety Center, and has also created cleaner interfaces that are easier to navigate in order to help users find swift answers to safety-related questions.  

When visiting the new Safety Center, users will be greeted with content organised by audience type and also by topics, such as ‘Addressing Personal Safety,’ and ‘Responding to Objectionable Content.’ Parents with worries and concerns will also find specific content supplied by Common Sense Media through the ‘Safety for Parents’ section.

“We’ll continue working closely with our partners to update and augment the Safety Center. This launch only begins to accelerate our efforts to make Facebook a better and safer place to engage,” added Sullivan. “Just as we hope you’ll never stop thinking about your own safety online, we won’t stop thinking about – and improving – yours.”

The various contributing members of the Safety Advisory Board, which creates the Safety Center’s content, include Childnet International, Common Sense Media, Connect Safely, The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI), and WiredSafety.

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