Facebook launches UK safety collaboration

Facebook recently announced that it will modify its website in the United Kingdom to allow young users that are confronted on the social network with unwanted or suspicious behavior to contact the authorities directly, according to a recent report by The Frontline.

The website says it will redesign its display to enable UK users to report harassment and bullying directly to the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Center. Facebook currently has 23 million users in the UK.

Mark Williams-Thomas, an independent child protection expert, says that the announcement represents a "considerable step forward in online safety" and that the collaborative approach is promising.

"A co-ordinated approach providing the additional reporting to CEOP is clearly worthwhile", Williams-Thomas told The Frontline. "Social networking sites need to show a commitment to work with both statutory and voluntary organisation to promote safety on the internet".

Facebook will also provide safety organizations with one billion free advertisements on the social network, which is worth £5 million.

Another recent website change announced by Facebook was the dropping of the "become a fan" function. The button has been replaced by another with the term "like", according to the Associated Press.