No 'panic button' app for Irish Facebook users

#1 · 12-07-2010 01:41PM #1

From [url]www.breakingnews.ie:[/url]

Teenagers who use Facebook in Ireland will not be able to download a new "panic" button being introduced in Britain today.

It is being introduced to offer immediate help to young people who fear they are being targeted by predators on the popular social networking site.

From today in Britain, all under 18s who are on Facebook will be prompted to download the panic button when they log in.

It has a direct link to a special unit in the UK which cracks down on internet paedophiles.

Several high-profile cases led to calls for a panic button, including the rape and murder of a 17-year-old who was killed by a convicted sex offender that she met on the site.

But Irish teenagers will not be able to download the panic button, because it is only available to people with UK IP addresses.

This means that teens who encounter a problem with an online user will have to trawl through the site to complain and seek help, instead of just pressing a single button.

Read more: http://breakingnews.ie/ireland/no-panic-button-app-for-irish-facebook-users-465175.html#ixzz0tTFkKezP

I read this, and thought "What a waste of time and money". I am glad it is not being implemented here. Can you imagine how difficult it would be to manage that special crime unit?

While I am all for anything the can do to crack down internet predators, this is just silly. Not to mention the fact it could be used as another method of cyber bullying.

Thoughts anyone?

chin_grin · 12-07-2010 01:44PM

Thoughts anyone?

Yes, parents need to stop being technotards! I mean let your child have some freedom online. But monitor their usage and limit it if needs be.

ShooterSF · 12-07-2010 01:44PM

http://jcwinnie.biz/wordpress/imageSnag/VogonGeoEngineering.png

What a silly idea.

smash · 12-07-2010 01:45PM

Can you imagine the abuse this button will get...

kfallon · 12-07-2010 01:45PM

*shaking my head*

What a load of bollix, the 'Faecebook' is a load of me hoop!

chin_grin · 12-07-2010 01:47PM

kfallon wrote: »

*shaking my head*

What a load of bollix, the 'Faecebook' is a load of me hoop!

How does one subscribe to your newsletter.............?

o1s1n · 12-07-2010 01:47PM

About as useful as Elton John's internet off switch.

MrStuffins · 12-07-2010 01:48PM

"OMG! Did she just say that my boyfriend was plowing her Farmville?" *Hits Panic Button

I guarentee not ONE Paedo is caught using this, very well thought out, service!

syklops · 12-07-2010 01:49PM

MrStuffins wrote: »

I guarentee not ONE Paedo is caught using this, very well thought out, service!

They mention the guy who raped and murdered the girl he met on Facebook. The panic button wouldnt have saved her life.

Standard Toaster · 12-07-2010 01:50PM

Alt-F4 / cmd+w does the same thing

Dravokivich · 12-07-2010 01:51PM

syklops wrote: »

Thoughts anyone?

I feel this is all due to the parents thinking a social site should be looking out for their kids and holding more responsiblity over what kids view, then taking the responsiblity as a parent to help encourage awareness in their children.

kfallon · 12-07-2010 01:51PM

chin_grin wrote: »

How does one subscribe to your newsletter.............?

It will be coming free thru your letterbox very soon!

Einhard · 12-07-2010 01:53PM

There seems to be an increasing trend in the UK to wrap children in as much cotton wool as possible, and shield them from every possible danger they might face. Only last week the Sunday Times was reporting on the case of the parents threatened with child services because they let their son (8) and daugher (5) cycle the mile to school everyday. What's more, it was other parents who reported it to the school, whose principal called them in and threatened to report them.

The panic button idea is just part of this "nannyism", and it threatens to cause more damage to children than the largely imaginary dangers it aims to minimise. Next thing you know, we'll have calls for Facebook to install panic rooms as well as panic buttons!!

eightyfish · 12-07-2010 01:54PM

ShooterSF wrote: »

http://jcwinnie.biz/wordpress/imageSnag/VogonGeoEngineering.png What a silly idea.

Took me a minute to get that one!

AgileMyth · 12-07-2010 01:54PM

But the problem with 'predators' only arises if the kid decides to meet them. If they are meeting them then they probably trust them and wouldn't have pressed the button in the first place.

All in all its a total waste of time, money and manpower.

smash · 12-07-2010 01:58PM

Recently some women's rights group wanted it installed for female users to prevent sexual harassment and bullying... Idiots!

Superbus · 12-07-2010 02:00PM

The weird thing is that is completely and utterly the underage person's fault if something bad happens out of Facebook. First of all, you have to accept the potential paedophile as a friend before they can do anything; then once they start acting suspiciously, you can block them; then you can delete them as a friend; then you can cop yourself on and not meet up with a random person who found you on the internet.

Idiots. Anyone who can be attacked by supposed internet predators shouldn't be on the internet in the first place.

AgileMyth · 12-07-2010 02:08PM

steve06 wrote: »

Recently some women's rights group wanted it installed for female users to prevent sexual harassment and bullying... Idiots!

What is this women's rights you speak of?

Yakult · 12-07-2010 02:11PM

*hits Panic Button*

Expect these guys to appear
http://media.ebaumsworld.com/mediaFiles/picture/426145/1000309.jpg

eightyfish · 12-07-2010 02:12PM

AgileMyth wrote: »

But the problem with 'predators' only arises if the kid decides to meet them.

Yes! This is where the effort and finance should be directed to tackle this problem. Children need to be provided with a Panic Rock.

smash · 12-07-2010 02:17PM

I think it starts like this...

WindSock · 12-07-2010 02:17PM

Under 18's should only be allowed stick to bebo.

Riamfada · 12-07-2010 02:19PM

It looks like a little X and is located on the top right of your screen.

Tards

Millicent · 12-07-2010 02:25PM

Superbus wrote: »

The weird thing is that is completely and utterly the underage person's fault if something bad happens out of Facebook. First of all, you have to accept the potential paedophile as a friend before they can do anything; then once they start acting suspiciously, you can block them; then you can delete them as a friend; then you can cop yourself on and not meet up with a random person who found you on the internet.

Idiots. Anyone who can be attacked by supposed internet predators shouldn't be on the internet in the first place.

It's completely and utterly a child's fault if they are sexually assaulted by someone they met on the internet? Good logic! In no way the paedophile's fault then, no?

12-07-2010 02:26PM

Superbus wrote: »

The weird thing is that is completely and utterly the underage person's fault if something bad happens out of Facebook. First of all, you have to accept the potential paedophile as a friend before they can do anything; then once they start acting suspiciously, you can block them; then you can delete them as a friend; then you can cop yourself on and not meet up with a random person who found you on the internet.

Idiots. Anyone who can be attacked by supposed internet predators shouldn't be on the internet in the first place.

Actually, I'd say it's the technophobic parents' fault. Allowing a child unrestricted access to the internet is the equivalent of dressing them in a gimp outfit, dumping them in the middle of Times Square at midnight and expecting them to find their own way home. No-one under the age of 16 should be allowed on a computer without being supervised (at the very least, the computer should be in a communal family room)

12-07-2010 02:28PM

Millicent wrote: »

In no way the paedophile's fault then, no?

It's not their fault they're so damn pretty.

ShooterSF · 12-07-2010 02:29PM

Millicent wrote: »

It's completely and utterly a child's fault if they are sexually assaulted by someone they met on the internet? Good logic! In no way the paedophile's fault then, no?

I think his point was the child can prevent the situation occurring numerous times before it gets to the point where its out of their control and therefore its better to educate people (not just kids) about such dangers.

Millicent · 12-07-2010 02:33PM

ShooterSF wrote: »

I think his point was the child can prevent the situation occurring numerous times before it gets to the point where its out of their control and therefore its better to educate people (not just kids) about such dangers.

I get that point. Kids should be educated- I mean at 12 or 13, your brain isn't quite cooked and you may do things you'd never dream of doing as an adult. Still not the kid's fault if a paedophile assaults them.

Kasabian · 12-07-2010 02:41PM

Superbus wrote: »

The weird thing is that is completely and utterly the underage person's fault if something bad happens out of Facebook. First of all, you have to accept the potential paedophile as a friend before they can do anything; then once they start acting suspiciously, you can block them; then you can delete them as a friend; then you can cop yourself on and not meet up with a random person who found you on the internet.

Idiots. Anyone who can be attacked by supposed internet predators shouldn't be on the internet in the first place.

Jesus, that is some load of twisted reasoning. Kids don't think like adults as you have clearly displayed in your post.

Mal-Adjusted · 12-07-2010 02:46PM

Millicent wrote: »

I get that point. Kids should be educated- I mean at 12 or 13, your brain isn't quite cooked and you may do things you'd never dream of doing as an adult. Still not the kid's fault if a paedophile assaults them.

oh, come on, it's the equivalent of walking across a road with your eyes closed. of course it's the paedobears fault, but anybody who winds up in the position where they could be targeted is practically inviting it! (and no, i don't mean that literally!)

Millicent · 12-07-2010 02:54PM

Mal-Adjusted wrote: »

oh, come on, it's the equivalent of walking across a road with your eyes closed. of course it's the paedobears fault, but anybody who winds up in the position where they could be targeted is practically inviting it! (and no, i don't mean that literally!)

It's not the equivalent. If it's their first time crossing the road or if they have never encountered a car on the road, the analogy is equivalent. If they have been taught nothing about paedophiles or correct use of the internet then no, it is not the equivalent. No child invites a sexual assault (literally, figuratively or otherwise)- that's a ridiculous thing to say.

No 'panic button' app for Irish Facebook users

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