Social network sites criticised over lack of help button for children

SOCIAL networking sites like Facebook and MySpace have been criticised for failing to provide a help button for children who are targets for bullying or sexual grooming.

The criticism was made by former Co Down police officer Jim Gamble, head of Britain’s Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), a law enforcement agency which traces online sex offenders.

Mr Gamble made his comments as he was launching the “CEOP Report” button which is to appear on every person’s profile page on the Bebo social networking site.