Facebook offers new security measures for users

Facebook unveiled a new version of the company's security measures Tuesday aimed at helping parents, teenagers, educators and law enforcement handle some of the hazards they may encounter when using the social networking site.

For teens, the measures give advice on ways to deal with cyberbullying and unwanted messages from strangers. For parents, they give tips on how to help children respond to offensive postings.

The measures also tell educators what to do when someone posts suicidal messages on Facebook.

While applauding Facebook's effort and saying the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company is moving in the right direction, some interviewed said the new safety measures will not protect users, particularly those under 18 years old. That responsibility rests with users and, in the case of teenagers, their parents and educators, they said.

"The most important lesson is the one they [Facebook] can't control," said David Weiss, assistant superintendent for secondary education of Commack High School. "Once you put it out there, you can't take it back. That is the parent's job to teach and the teacher's job to reinforce it."

The move by Facebook comes amid growing concerns over cyberbullying and other abusive online behaviors by users. In one high-profile case in Britain, a serial rapist used Facebook to lure and murder a teenage girl.

"There's no single answer to making the Internet or Facebook safer. . . . Going forward, you'll see even more powerful - and simpler - safety innovations coming from Facebook," Elliot Schrage, the company's vice president of global communications and public policy, said in a news release.

Dets. John McGee, of the Nassau Police Internet Child Exploitation Section, and Rory Forrestal, of the Suffolk Computer Crimes Squad, said they are glad to see Facebook being proactive.

"There is a whole library of resources there. I think these are positive steps," McGee said.

McGee said he would have liked to see Facebook give parents whose children are 13 years old and under the ability to shut down their kids' accounts.

Forrestal, who also commended Facebook for being proactive, said he would have liked the company to automatically hide personal information for users under 18 years old.

"You have to go through eight screens to lock it down properly," he said.

Paul Mihailidis, assistant professor of media studies at Hofstra University, said Facebook is in a difficult position - it has to balance users' need for privacy and safety concerns.

"The more you grow, you're going to have more issues. You hope they'll get out in front of it rather than increase regulations," Mihailidis said.

"At the end of the day, it's up to the users and parents."

What the kids think of it

Billy Crawford, 17, of West Islip, is a senior at West Islip High School.

"It's a good first step but there's definitely more that needs to be done," he said. "It's difficult to find. They could have sent out a mass message. I would suggest they have a page or make a chat where you can directly talk to an administrator."

Kim DiMartino, 17, of West Islip, is a junior at West Islip High School.

"It looks kind of helpful and user friendly," she said. For it to work and spread among teens," she said, "you would have to put out a way to advertise it."

Adam Matos, 17, of West Islip, is a junior at West Islip High School.

"I think it's helpful because it looks like the site of Facebook," he said. "It gives users information that they can understand. It's informative for everyone."

Keiamashadi Thomas, 17, of Hempstead, is a senior at Hempstead High School.

"I think it's nice because some people don't know how to defend themselves," she said. "With this, problems can be worked out before turning physical. I think it will prevent people from getting into fights."

Nehmoni McCoy, 15, of Hempstead, is a sophomore at Hempstead High School.

"I think it's good to help kids who are afraid to tell an adult," she said. "Everyone is on Facebook so it will be easier for people to see."

- Yamiche Alcindor