Category Archives: Online Alerts
Ask.FM Reportedly Linked To Suicides & Bullying
It has been reported lately in the UK, in the UK’s ‘Mail Online’ that the latest social networking site Ask.FM has been linked to a range of serious issues and some of these as reported in the ‘Mail Online’ are that:
- Schools across the country are sending out letters advising pupils not to use Ask.fm
- Site lets anyone see details of boys and girls as young as 13, then post comments or questions
- There is no way to report offensive comments
- Has become linked to a number of recent teen suicides
From reviewing the article and the social networking site it is clearly a concern that “…The website lets anyone see the names, photographs and personal details of boys and girls as young as 13, then post comments or questions on their profile pages that range from insults to sexual advances and threats of violence…”
What concerns us at Cyber Guardians Online is the fact that the site is based in Latvia, making it even more difficult for police to take action as protocols between law enforcement agencies in Australia, United States, Canada, Great Britain and the like with Latvia may not have been established to allow for transnational collaboration between law enforcement agencies to track down internet predators.
Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters legislation is a mine field in itself between collaborating countries in addition to United Nation Articles, Declarations and Charters being clear-cut with regards to international crime and it must be established that Latvian authorities will cooperate with law enforcement agencies globally should it be identified that cyber predators are operating behind the veil of Ask.Fm.
If your child is using Ask.Fm, it is time to sit down with them to review internet safety protocols.
Feel free to contact us at Cyber Guardians Online should you have any concerns.
Ask.FM Allegedly Linked To Suicides
Bradley W. Deacon
