Social Media Safety: Protect Profiles from Cyberbullies

Facebook:

1. Abuse can be reported by e-mailing Facebook directly at abuse@facebook.com.
2. You can find additional information about reporting abuse at the following link: http://www.facebook.com/help/?safety#!/help/?topic=reportabuse
3. Facebook has a new safety center to help parents, teens, and educators. Use the link below to access the center:
http://www.facebook.com/safety

MySpace:

1. MySpace provides a link where anyone can report inappropriate content, offensive profiles, or harassments/threats: http://www.myspace.com/help/reportabuse

2. Parents can also cancel their child's MySpace account through the series of steps under "Instructions for deleting a MySpace Account" at the link provided: http://www.myspace.com/help/safety/parents/profile

Instagram:

Instagram provides their users instructions on how to flag any inappropriate or offensive pictures, comments, or users at the link below.

Twitter:

Twitter's guideline can be found here.

You can learn to report any form of abuse under the section "Reporting Violations" right here.

Pinterest:

Pinterest provides detailed step-by-step instructions for users to follow when encountering an offensive/abusive picture, comment, or user. You can read more about it here.

Google Plus+:

Google Plus+ has easy instructions on how to report a post or block a person. There are also a tip for parents concern about their child using Google Plus+. All information can be found here.

Youtube:

The guidelines for uploading appropriate videos are posted on Youtube's community guidelines. Here is the link:http://youtube.com/t/community_guidelines

Anyone can flag a video as inappropriate. If Youtube reviews the video and finds it to be inappropriate, the video is shut down. If they decide to terminate the user's account the user is prohibited from ever having another account on Youtube.

Youtube allows user to not only report videos, but also block users who are making inappropriate comments. You can learn more about it here.

Formspring:

http://www.formspring.me/about/community

Formspring has community rules which every user must adhere to. If your child is a recipient of abuse or nasty questions, use the "block" or "report" button in their inbox or notify Formspring that people abusing the site.

Additionally, anyone with a Formsping account may choose any of three settings (found under settings > privacy):

1) Allow anonymous questions
2) Allow anonymous questions, but only from people who are logged in
3) Don't allow any anonymous questions

Option #1 means you allow anyone to ask you questions, even if they are not logged in to their account when they ask the question. Formspring can still collect some identifying information (like IP address) from the person asking the question, they cannot block that user from asking questions in the future.

Option #2 means people can still ask you anonymous questions but they must be logged in to leave you a question. Your child can still block someone if you feel bothered by them or their questions.

Option #3 requires that all people asking questions be logged in and show their identity to you.

Text Messages:

Log into your cell phone account online and look for "Messaging Preferences" or similar.AT&T, T-Mobile, Alltel, Verizon and Sprint now allow you to adjust your settings to block certain contacts using usage options. You may have to pay an additional monthly fee and register for this service for it to become active. You will likely have a limit for the number of contacts you can add to this list.

Save the phone number to your contact list. You can name it "Blocked." Then edit the contact and scroll to "Messages" or "Text" options. Change the volume to "silent" and turn any LED light and vibration settings off. This will allow you stop being notified when you get a message from this person

iMessages:

With the iOS 6 software, users can now block unwanted incoming messages. If you do not know what version you have on your iphone, here are the steps to find out: Setting => General => About => Scroll down to "Version".

If your version is not the current iOS 6, you can find the process to update and whether your iPhone is compatible with the new software here.

Once your version is up-to-date, it is now possible to restrict your iMessage alerts to the people in your contacts only. Go to Setting => Notifications => Messages => Scroll down to "Show iMessages Alert From" => Select "My Contacts Only".

To read more about the process, click here.

Gaming:

Microsoft, maker of the XBox 360 – Complaints are reviewed. People who use speech can have their voice privileges removed. Players can be reported to law enforcement if their conduct has criminal intent.

www.GetGameSmart.com. Parents can modify who their children play with, what games are played and find other tools.