Facebook Moves To Stop Cyber Bullying

November 4, 2016
Facebook Moves To Stop Cyber Bullying

facebook-cyber-bullying

By Dipo Olowookere

Cyber bullying is one issue that has given internet users, especially those on social media platforms, sleepless nights.

Some have committed suicide just because of being bullied on the internet, which has forced some governments to look into the issue.

Just two months after Facebook CEO, Mr Mark Zuckerberg, travelled to Nigeria and Kenya to meet with developers, partners, and entrepreneurs, Chief Security Officer at Facebook, Mr Alex Stamos, gave a keynote address at the CyberXchange security conference in Lagos, Nigeria about the company’s approach to keeping people safe and making the internet more secure for everyone. Keeping you and your information safe is a core part of helping our community grow, connect, and support each other, Mr Stamos said.

He addressed an audience of security industry professionals, researchers, and students who gathered to discuss solutions to cyber security challenges in Nigeria and around the world.

He explained that Facebook builds security protections to help keep people safe even under non-ideal circumstances that security professionals often overlook—such as weak password usage or running out-of-date devices. Facebook performs automated checks to help detect suspicious logins to protect people’s accounts, and they ship their own cryptography with their mobile app to make people more secure on those devices.

He also stressed the importance of consumer awareness around safety and security to protect people’s information and help them feel comfortable being themselves online.

Nigeria officially recognized National Cyber Security Awareness Month in October, underscoring the need to educate the public about how to protect themselves. This focus on awareness is at the heart of Facebook’s newly redesigned Safety Center an engaging resource to help people get the information they need about controlling their information and staying safe.

“People come to Facebook to share important and personal moments in their lives. That’s why we build our services and tools to help people remain in control and protect their accounts. We always have to consider the situations in which our technology will be used so that we can offer people the best security and safety for what they need,” said Mr Stamos.

He said the new Safety Center walks people through the tools Facebook offers to control your experience, as well as numerous tips and resources for safe and secure sharing.

The Safety Center is available in over 50 languages, works well on mobile devices, and includes step-by-step videos on a variety of popular safety topics. Facebook worked with partners including the International Center for Leadership Development in Nigeria and Watoto Watch Network in Kenya to bring its safety resources to life and address local communities.

He said this update also brings the Bullying Prevention Hub to everyone on Facebook. The Hub is a resource for teens, parents and educators seeking guidance on how to prevent and address bullying. Developed with the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence in 2013, Facebook now works with nearly 60 partners around the world to make the Bullying Prevention Hub more widely available.

For Facebook, making the world more open and connected also means keeping people and their information safe, Mr Stamos said.

Dipo Olowookere

Dipo Olowookere is a journalist based in Nigeria that has passion for reporting business news stories. At his leisure time, he watches football and supports 3SC of Ibadan.

Mr Olowookere can be reached via [email protected]

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