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Ask.fm advertisers to quit site in cyber bullying row Ask.fm advertisers to quit site in cyber bullying row
(35 minutes later)
Several large companies are among those pulling adverts from social media website ask.fm, after the death of a teenager who was bullied online.Several large companies are among those pulling adverts from social media website ask.fm, after the death of a teenager who was bullied online.
The Sun newspaper, EDF, BT and optical retailer Specsavers are among those distancing themselves from the site.The Sun newspaper, EDF, BT and optical retailer Specsavers are among those distancing themselves from the site.
Ask.fm has issued an open letter saying it does not condone bullying of any kind on their site.Ask.fm has issued an open letter saying it does not condone bullying of any kind on their site.
The controversy comes after the death of bullied 14-year-old Hannah Smith. The controversy comes after the death of bullied 14-year-old Hannah Smith from Leicestershire.
Earlier, David Cameron said social network sites must "clean up their act" or face boycotts from users.Earlier, David Cameron said social network sites must "clean up their act" or face boycotts from users.
Her father has said she killed herself after being targeted on ask.fm where she faced anonymous taunts and comments urging her to end her life.Her father has said she killed herself after being targeted on ask.fm where she faced anonymous taunts and comments urging her to end her life.
'Pulling all advertising' 'Troll kings'
Police are investigating claims that, since her death, Hannah's 16-year-old sister has also received abusive web messages.Police are investigating claims that, since her death, Hannah's 16-year-old sister has also received abusive web messages.
A source at the Sun, which on Wednesday described ask.fm as a "suicide site", told the BBC it would cancel the advertising package which saw an advert for the paper's new online service appear on the site.A source at the Sun, which on Wednesday described ask.fm as a "suicide site", told the BBC it would cancel the advertising package which saw an advert for the paper's new online service appear on the site.
It had said the men behind ask.fm were "troll kings" on its front page.It had said the men behind ask.fm were "troll kings" on its front page.
The mental health charity Mind has said it will cancel its own adverts on ask.fm, and those for a campaign designed to challenge mental health discrimination called Time to Change.
"Our advertising on this site forms part of packages arranged for us by agencies, and we are this afternoon in the process of pulling all advertising from this site," a spokesperson said.
Vodafone, Specsavers, Save the Children and Laura Ashley have also moved to withdraw their adverts.Vodafone, Specsavers, Save the Children and Laura Ashley have also moved to withdraw their adverts.
Advertising space is often bought through agencies. Organisations can buy "bundles" of advertising to showcase their brands on multiple sites - so can be unaware of exactly where their adverts appear.Advertising space is often bought through agencies. Organisations can buy "bundles" of advertising to showcase their brands on multiple sites - so can be unaware of exactly where their adverts appear.
The prime minister did not mention ask.fm by name or talk about advertisers but said earlier: "The people that run these websites have got to step up to the plate, clean up their act and show some responsibility. Ask.fm, the Latvia-based website used by Hannah, allows people to post comments anonymously. Her father David said he found posts telling her to die.
"It's not acceptable, what's allowed to happen on these sites. It's their responsibility, and those posting these hateful remarks, first and foremost."
Ask.fm, the website used by Hannah, from Leicestershire, allows people to post comments anonymously. Her father David said he found posts telling her to die.
'Happy to co-operate''Happy to co-operate'
The Latvia-based website said its moderators "ensure genuine concerns are acted upon immediately" and that it always removed "content reported to us that violates our terms of service". In an open letter from ask.fm on Thursday the site said it had an "in-question reporting function" which had been in place since 2012 and was "similar to the in-tweet function announced by Twitter this week".
In an open letter from Ask.fm on Thursday it said the site had an "in-question reporting function" which had been in place since 2012 and was "similar to the in-tweet function announced by Twitter this week".
"This means that anyone can report anything they see that may be of concern. If parents see something on their teenager's Ask.fm page that they are concerned about, they too can click the in-question reporting button and alert our moderators," the letter said."This means that anyone can report anything they see that may be of concern. If parents see something on their teenager's Ask.fm page that they are concerned about, they too can click the in-question reporting button and alert our moderators," the letter said.
The letter also says a team of moderators was present "around the clock - 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days per year" who manually check all content posted to their site.The letter also says a team of moderators was present "around the clock - 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days per year" who manually check all content posted to their site.
It continued: "We believe one of our site's advantages is that everything is open - rather than hidden in private inboxes. This means that anyone can report anything they see that may be of concern."It continued: "We believe one of our site's advantages is that everything is open - rather than hidden in private inboxes. This means that anyone can report anything they see that may be of concern."
Earlier this week, Ask.fm described Hannah's death as a tragedy and said it was "happy to co-operate" with the Leicestershire police investigation into the circumstances around it.Earlier this week, Ask.fm described Hannah's death as a tragedy and said it was "happy to co-operate" with the Leicestershire police investigation into the circumstances around it.
Among organisations offering parents advice on helping their children stay safe online is Childnet International - which has its own guide for parents about the safe use of social networking websites.Among organisations offering parents advice on helping their children stay safe online is Childnet International - which has its own guide for parents about the safe use of social networking websites.
The BBC also has internet safety tips for parents, including keeping children safe on social networks.The BBC also has internet safety tips for parents, including keeping children safe on social networks.
Ceop - the police-linked Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre - also allows parents and children to directly report sexual or offensive chat through its report centre.Ceop - the police-linked Child Exploitation and Online Protection centre - also allows parents and children to directly report sexual or offensive chat through its report centre.