Facebook, Media Literacy Council launch site to combat cyber bullying

SINGAPORE - Facebook and the Media Literacy Council launched a site for the prevention of cyber bullying for users in Singapore today, ahead of tomorrow's Safer Internet Day.

Called the Bullying Prevention Centre, the site provides information, recommendations and guidance for those who are being bullied as well as their friends, parents and teachers, and even those accused of bullying. Specific actions, including links to Facebook's reporting tools, are listed for each audience. Facebook will also direct anyone who reports bullying via Facebook's reporting tools to the Bullying Prevention Centre.

The Media Literacy Council said in a statement today that it worked extensively with Facebook to ensure the content and conversation starters are relevant for young people, parents and educators in Singapore.

The site will be promoted to students and teachers through a series of activities run by the Media Literacy Council from Feb 10 to May.

Chairman of the Media Literacy Council Professor Tan Cheng Han said: "The Internet is just like the real world but consequences are often magnified in the online world. It is our collective responsibility to make the world, internet or otherwise, better."

Head of Policy for Facebook Australia and New Zealand Ms Mia Garlick said: "We live in a world where occasionally conflicts will occur, both online and off, so it's important to give people the tools and skills to tackle this behaviour when they see it. The new Bullying Prevention Centre is part of our ongoing commitment to provide safeguards to the people who use Facebook, especially young people. We hope that by putting this kind of information at people's fingertips when they need it we will be able to help them resolve these conflicts."

huizhen@sph.com.sg