Fact: SAFE has anonymity baked in
Fact: The service ask.fm has anonymity as a popular feature and 50 million users!
The concern around ask.fm has highlighted to me, that indeed it will be the App owners on SAFE that will be copping blowback from the concerned and not SAFE itself.
The more quality apps that can be launched quickly, the better for SAFE?..50 million users, one app!
Should Maidsafe use marketing $ to promote the first group of quality Privacy/ Anonymity apps (including LifeStuff), rather than SAFEnetwork itself? …maybe thats the plan
From: ‘Ask.fm’s new owners vow to crack down on bullying or shut the site’
Users of Ask.fm are able to set up profiles which they use to answer questions other members ask of them. While the answers must be given by a named user, the questions can be asked anonymously, which has led to the site being labelled a hotbed of bullying
Ask.fm has seen phenomenal usage and engagement because of its compelling take on social expression: describing yourself through the lens of what others want to know about you,”
The Ask.FM website has been linked to several bullying cases where the young person has taken their own life.
Ask.fm has been associated with six other teenagers’ suicides, a factor many observers, including Carr, have put down to the nature of the site itself
The company now promises to respond to bullying allegations within 24 hours, and promises to revamp its safety and moderation policies and procedures within six months, including “putting in place filters to catch and remove violent, illegal, threatening or harassing content,”
From: Students descend on nasty website Ask.fm
It’s a website renowned for vicious and offensive postings with guaranteed anonymity, and yet teenagers are flocking to Ask.fm.
Welcome to the new ground zero of cyber bullying for high school students.
‘‘Nothing surpasses Ask.fm at the moment for nastiness among students, nothing,’’ cyber safety expert Susan McLean said.
The Australian Government Cyber smart site, offers the following:
What do people ask on Ask.fm?
Ask.fm allows users to check through open profiles without creating their own account. There are many overtly sexual questions asked. Some users deflect them well, while others are not as skilled or are happy to engage in the sexual banter.Many conversations are between school friends and cover daily school happenings.
What is Ask.FM doing to protect children?
Ask.fm’s Terms of Use state that users must be 13 years or older. It advises people not to share personal information and to block and report users who break the Terms of Service. It advises that ‘if the person keeps bothering you, report abuse to us by pressing the Report button and to law enforcement’…‘we can supply identifying information (of anonymous users) if necessary’. In August 2013 Ask.fm announced changes to its policies due to public scrutiny. It indicated it will improve its reporting, moderation and information on sources of help and advice. If your child has an Ask.fm account, you may like to go online with them to help select the appropriate settings.
Will banning my child from Ask.fm protect them? Are there other platforms like this?
Banning use of sites or apps may not be the best option as children will find ways to engage with platforms like Ask.fm. You can’t protect children from all of the risks posed by these platforms and applications but you can discuss your concerns and establish boundaries. The platform is itself is not the issue – the behaviour is.
How do I talk to my child about my concerns?
Be honest with them. Talk about the media stories, express your love and concern about what might happen online. Ask if they have experienced bullying or sexual advances online and talk it through with them. Banning seldom works and children will find other ways to get online. They will stop talking to you about issues if they aren’t meant to be online anyway. Keep the communication open, or recruit a trusted family friend or family member to help.
When should I be worried about my child?
If your child’s behaviour changes at home or school you should talk to them, particularly if they seem disinterested in things they used to like, seem very unhappy and/or their sleep and eating is impacted. Seek professional advice if necessary including through the Cybersmart Online Helpline counselling service, the school counsellor, your GP or a psychologist. If your child has particular vulnerabilities, be vigilant about their contacts offline and online. Help them join groups out of school where they can find friends and support. Talk to the school and make sure they are supported.
