In the world of free speech, there is no effective law that can stop bullying and harassment on the internet. As the largest social media network, Facebook sees this as one of its biggest problems.
To make a better place for users on its platform, Facebook improves users' safety by launching a set of tools to protect high profile users and options for people to report problems on behalf of others. After all, everyone deserves to feel safe on Facebook.
"We’re introducing new tools and programs so people can better control unwanted, offensive or hurtful experiences on Facebook, said the social media on its post.
First off, Facebook introduces comment moderation, reporting, and appeal tools.
"We are giving you more control over how people interact with your posts on Facebook because comments can sometimes be used to bully or harass people. We’re introducing a way for people to hide or delete multiple comments at once from the options menu of their post."
Related: Cyberbullying And Online Harassment: How Bad Can They Be?
Facebook said that it is also testing ways to better search for and block offensive words from ever appearing in comments.
There is also a feature where users can easily report bullying and harassment as it happens. "If you see a friend or family member being bullied or harassed, now you can report someone on their behalf via the menu above the post that you are concerned about. Once reported, our Community Operations team will review the post, keep your report anonymous, and determine whether it violates our Community Standards."
Users can also appeal decisions on cases involving bullying and harassment.
Next is better protections for famous people.
Facebook has talked to safety experts regarding ways to better protect public figures from harassment, and earlier the company expanded its policies to guard these high-profile young individuals on the platform. With the update, Facebook again expanded its policies to include everyone regardless their age. What this means attacks that directly engage a public figure won't anymore be tolerated.
"If anyone experiences unwanted behavior on Facebook, they can report the person who is bullying or harassing them, anonymously ignore unwanted messages, and block someone without them being notified."
Facebook has also partnered with the National Parent Teachers Association in the U.S. to facilitate 200 community events in cities in every state to address tech-related challenges faced families. This includes bullying prevention and others.
Previously, people participated in Facebook's online safety and anti-bullying programs, and built that partnership with experts and community organizations. Here, Facebook has expanded this initiative.
"Working with partners, we also offer a peer-to-peer online safety and anti-bullying program to every secondary school in the UK. And we support a program in India that has educated tens of thousands of young people about online safety, thoughtful sharing, and privacy and security."
Facebook hopes that the additional steps introduced would help those users who face bullying and harassment on Facebook.
"We know our job is never done when it comes to keeping people safe, and we’ll continue listening to feedback on how we can build better tools and improve our policies."
Facebook has been hit with numerous problems regarding privacy, including the famous Cambridge Analytic scandal that leaked millions of users' personal data. But regarding the safety of its users, Facebook here should be praised for its continued efforts to help protect potentially at-risk users.