A domestic violence prevention group has joined Facebook’s global safety advisory board.
The National Network to End Domestic Violence is the fifth external group to join Facebook’s safety committee.
Sites like Facebook provide evidence for this crime that otherwise might be difficult to prove in court because it happens behind closed doors.
NNEDV wants to advise Facebook on how to “develop features for survivors of domestic violence,” said Cindy Southworth, vice president of development and innovation, along with the founder of the organization’s Safety Net technology project.
She explained that most of the safety oriented tools already available online have more of a younger audience and she wants to see something relevant to older victims of domestic abuse.
Facebook “is technology that should help victims make perpetrators more accountable. Many feel compelled to delete messages and block senders. We want them to let the messages come in and not block the sender so we can track their source,” she says.
The social network’s safety advisory board formed one year ago and gives feedback on new Facebook products before they go live. The other four external organizations participating in the group are:
Which aspects of safety on Facebook have room for improvement, in your opinion? With this goal in mind, what would you like to see added to the social network?
I agree that savety control on FB must be improved.
too many victims have fallen because of social media.
Comment by iipalbanjary — December 8, 2010 @ 3:36 am
Is the NNEDV aware of all of the privacy issues on Facebook? Until the privacy issues are properly addressed, there is no way Facebook is a safe place for anyone that requires privacy. Our news network recommends that victims of stalkers or abusers – simply deactivate their Facebook account temporarily. Our network has been investigating these privacy allegations for months and have determined that additional privacy issues are occurring. Privacy is obviously not a priority to Facebook.
Comment by Director — December 8, 2010 @ 5:09 am
Yes, NNEDV is aware of all the privacy issues. They have a program SafetyNet focusing on privacy issues, location apps, spyware, etc. They have worked w/FB on privacy issues already, such as in regard to Locations.
I am so glad that NNEDV is being included on this committee. Just like any technology, FB can be used to as a tool to futher abuse. For example, abusers can monitor/spy on victims, use FB communications that the victim has with others as an excuse to abuse them/accuse them of cheating/flirting, etc, and it is a way that abusers threaten or intimaidate victims (say if they've broken up or have a protective order in place). What goes on in real life also happens online. The inherent nature of social networking makes it necessary to address victim safety and privacy.
Having this perspective present will raise awareness about the very real threats to victims' personal safety-and even to their lives-when their privacy is violated and their info is shared w/o consent. I believe that this heighteneed awareness will ultimately benefit us all and improve the privacy rights we care so much about.
Comment by DV Professional — December 8, 2010 @ 11:40 am
It's great to see that they are working Faceebook to protect victims of domestic violence. However, I think the safest way for individuals to keep their identity and location private is to stay off of social media sites. Information can always fall into the wrong hands, and by that I don't mean advertisers or game apps. Social media has allowed our social circle to grow expansively, therefore creating a network of information sharing that may be beyond our own limits. Simplified: "I heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend….who saw it on Facebook."
Comment by @DeidreDoom — December 9, 2010 @ 4:52 pm
said Cindy Southworth, vice president of development and innovation, along with the founder of the organization’s Safety Net technology project.
Quoting: "She [Cindy Southworth] … wants to see something relevant to older victims of domestic abuse.
Facebook “… should help victims make perpetrators more accountable. … We want them to let the messages come in and not block the sender so we can track their source,” she says.
Comment by X Trev R Ward's wife — January 14, 2011 @ 9:24 pm
Quoting: " She [ Cindy Southworth] … wants to see something relevant to older victims of domestic abuse.
Facebook [she said]… should help victims make perpetrators more accountable. Many feel compelled to delete messages and block senders. We want them to let the messages come in and not block the sender so we can track their source,".
Victim of Domestic Violence like me have always had to shut up since that DV started: first because of the shame, losing friends etc, losing contacts and workmates due to calculated cunning manipulation of the now expert in DV, the perpetrator, to exercise financial control on the victim. The expert learning by experience of what to do and not to do to have authorities, police, medical inc. friends of the victims turning their fingers on his victim/s, the victim is more and more isolated. The victim falls into depression, trauma, PTSD, is more and more on her own, more and more seclused, rejected. Ill and more ill due to stress that continues after living the violent alcoholic and mentally ill psychopath, she still has to fight to get back on her feet, but she is left with nothing. No more friends, she was a migrant, no more family, no more work, no more support of any kind, no money or too little to carry on for long, and no money to get solicitors to fight on domestic violence and property settlement. He has all, he will deny, he drags you more and more into death…
I am Anne-Marie, I am a victim of the only husband I had, that become my husband by crying and manipulating me.
I am Anne-Marie and I have lost all, but gain disability, mental and physical and I am soon homeless when I was earning as much as his on hourly rate, I had excellent network of friends, long time business, perfect health.
I am Anne-Marie, and I see only death in front of my eyes, day in, day out, seconds after seconds.
I am Anne-Marie and still here because I have a son, not his, whose future and education and stability have been destroyed because of that man. This child not being his is excluded from the Australian Family Law from being part of the damage created by that 'thing' that I call him.
I am Anne-Marie and I have enough of the 5 years since I have left him as you cannot start a new life when you have no mental and physical health, that you are a disabled, since DV, and no family support.
I am Anne-Marie, ex wife of Trevor Roy Ward and I speak up and I will speak more…. DV Facebook, perpetrator, Before and after photos and before/after conditions.
DV victims must not continue living in the dark.
We see people, groups, charitable organisations all the time organising events, and fundraising, and attracting media attention.
Why don't we, and we only, those who want to stand up, create a physical human chain, a specific day in the year, holding hands from spots to spots and attract the media.
I am more than fed up to hear the hypocritical people and authorities, like police and governments (wasting money to look good on the issue, on tv ads) claiming that Australia says No to DV. Bullshit and the perpetrators laughing all the way down: it does not concern me….
Comment by X TrevorR Ward's wfe — January 14, 2011 @ 9:49 pm
you know what i think it is a good idea i just got out of a dv problem my ex wife was abuseve to the extream i will be willing to help if need be with this idea
Comment by david — January 28, 2012 @ 10:58 am