SpunOut.ie and Twitter launch Online Safety Hub for young people (video)

11 Feb 2015

Photo by nenetus/Shutterstock

At Twitter’s Dublin HQ on Safer Internet Day, SpunOut.ie teamed up with the social network to launch an Online Safety Hub to help ensure young people have a positive and safe online experience.

The Online Safety Hub from youth information website SpunOut.ie aims to arm young people with what they need to navigate the online world with confidence through a set of short, easy guides to online safety, privacy and security for the most used social, dating and gaming apps, sites and consoles.

Speakers at the launch event included Patricia Cartes, Twitter’s global head of safety, who was encouraged to see the public, industry and safety experts working together to create a better internet.

“Online safety is a priority for (Twitter) and for this reason we support Safer Internet Day and we are very excited for today’s activities,” she said.

“(The year) 2014 has been a big year for us in terms of safety: we introduced significant changes to our reporting mechanisms, rolled out new user tools and our Trust and Safety or Safety Operations teams have continued to grow with hubs in Dublin and San Francisco which service reports from around the globe, across time zones.”

Cartes noted that more than 1bn tweets are sent every two days on Twitter, and the Online Safety Hub has guides dedicated to this and other popular social networks, such as Facebook and Google+, as well as messaging platforms, such as Snapchat, WhatsApp and iMessage, and dating services such as Tinder, Grindr and OkCupid.

Ellie Walsh, a member of SpunOut.ie’s action panel, explained how intrinsic social media and online spaces have become to young people’s identities. Walsh stressed how young people can ensure that this becomes a positive force in their lives by being informed.

“It is vital the discussion around the online safety of young people doesn’t only exist in adult forums,” said Walsh.

“SpunOut.ie’s work to empower and engage young people has taken on a new form in the Online Safety Hub, with youth-proofed articles and advice taking centre place. This platform will encourage young people to be proactive about keeping safe online and hopefully encourage dialogue amongst peers.”

Main image of young women on smartphones by nenetus via Shutterstock

Elaine Burke is the host of For Tech’s Sake, a co-production from Silicon Republic and The HeadStuff Podcast Network. She was previously the editor of Silicon Republic.

editorial@siliconrepublic.com