Let’s Support Safer Internet Day

Here we asked the experts from Yubo, a platform for young people to socialise online, to give us their thoughts about this year’s Safer Internet Day PLUS their tips to stay safe:

Marc-Antoine Durand, COO of Yubo

At Yubo, we have a strong responsibility not only to make sure our platform is safe, but to help educate our users on how to navigate their own safety practices.

While processes differ on each network, as soon as a report is made on Yubo it is processed by our live moderation team in real-time. Reports for live streams are addressed in less than 1 minute on average and there are moderators around the world to ensure support is available 24/7. Yubo’s algorithm also analyses all written and visual content, and proactively removes anything that does not comply with our Trust and Safety standards.

We also send real-time prompts and alerts to help our users understand why their behaviour might put them at risk. Helping them think twice about the ways they are interacting online can go a long way towards not only protecting them, but molding future behavior.

Here are a few tips for online safety:

• Think before you share: It’s important to remember that sharing too much information about yourself might not be safe – avoid sharing your date of birth, personal address or location, contact information and any financial details. Although you may have been chatting with someone online and they may seem trustworthy, avoid sharing anything that you would not want to be public.
• Respect others and be kind: Social media has opened the doors to connecting with new people not only in your community, but around the world. Take the opportunity to learn from others who are different from you and respect their experiences, backgrounds and beliefs to create a positive space for everyone.
• If you see something, say something: It is important to remember that social networks are public spaces – and like in any public space, it’s best to exercise caution when interacting with new people. If something has worried or upset you, or just doesn’t feel right, report it to the safety teams straight away and tell someone you trust.

Margaux Liquard, the Lead Safety Product Manager of Yubo

As more and more young people connect online, it’s never been more important to educate them on online behaviours and the consequences that certain words and actions can have on others. Our independent Safety Board made up of international industry experts ensures that Yubo delivers best practice when it comes to user safety.

Our main tip to all young social media and online users is to educate yourself on what might be high-risk or dangerous, and to take advantage of the in-app tools that are made easily accessible. These tools have been designed exclusively with the users’ safety in mind and are powered by real people and AI. They empower everyone to take control of their experience online to ensure that they’re safe, while still having fun. This includes:

• Reporting: The reporting tool is essential for flagging any content, messages or users that you might find offensive or harmful. When people proactively report dangerous content or users, it helps platforms uphold their Community Guidelines and is incredibly important for creating a positive and safe space for everyone.
• You choose your interactions: While similar to reporting, some platforms like Yubo empower you to take control of what you want to see and who you interact with.For example, at Yubo, we have introduced Muted Words, a feature that allows users to block words and conversations that they find upsetting or harmful.
• Don’t be afraid to ask for support: We encourage all our users to reach out and ask for support when needed. This can include reaching out to the Yubo safety specialist team or directly to local helplines and organisations such as Beyond Blue, Lifeline, Headspace and more that can help and address different areas of concern, including cyberbullying, harassment and overall mental wellbeing. 

For more from Women Love Tech about cyberbullying, take a look here