Ask.fm Site Owners Agree To Increased Oversight To Prevent Harassment
ALBANY, N.Y. (CBSNewYork/AP) -- New York's attorney general says new owners of the website Ask.fm have agreed to provide more oversight of complaints intended to curb harassment and bullying of the question-and-answer network popular among teens.
The site has been acquired by the owners of Ask.com, whose chief executive, Doug Leeds, says the focus is ensuring a safer and more enjoyable experience for users.
Launched in 2010, Ask.fm claims more than 180 million monthly active users worldwide, with 42 percent under 18.
Users can anonymously ask questions of other registered users.
Under the agreement announced Thursday by New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, the website will hire a trust and safety officer, review user complaints within 24 hours and remove users who have been the subject of multiple complaints.
Some say the website has spurred cyberbullying in schools—including parents in Clarkstown.
Concerned parents contacted police in April 2013 after an anonymous vulgar post attacked a female student on Ask.fm, comparing the young girl to a beached whale.
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